Originally from South Dakota, Betty Simpson became a full-time resident of Fort Myers Beach, Florida in 1966.

Between 1973 and 1976, Betty D. Simpson worked for Robert Troutman during the prime planning years of the proposed development named The Estuaries.

Between 1973 and 1976, Betty D. Simpson worked for Robert Troutman during the prime planning years of the proposed development named The Estuaries. Although development and environmental preservation are usually considered juxtaposed, Simpson related a message of such a union when referring to Robert S. Troutman's ideas and the proposed DRI (development of regional impact) community of The Estuaries.