Background
Betty Lee Newling was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, to a socially prominent family. She is the daughter of Vera (née Browner) and Doctor Russell Lee Newling, both born in Australia.
Betty Lee Newling was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, to a socially prominent family. She is the daughter of Vera (née Browner) and Doctor Russell Lee Newling, both born in Australia.
She is the widow of businessman Alfred South., heir to the department store chain. She has appeared on the International Best Dressed List since 1970. She is a frequent party host, mainly for charity, for which she has been dubbed "Good Queen Betts". remained friendly with Dunne, appearing with him at the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2006.
Alfred and Betsy had 3 children.
She is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, currently residing in Holmby Hills. A practicing Roman Catholic, she has been involved in fundraising projects for the Los Angeles Cathedral.
She contributed to the funding for the development of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. In 2009, was the subject of an exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
The exhibit called, "High Style: Betsy and the Haute Couture" displayed 60 Haute Couture gowns that she had collected since the 1960s.