|
|
Betty Mae Long |
|
March 22, 1931 ~ August 15, 2014 |
|
August 21, 2014 |
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and
great-grandmother, Betty Mae Long, passed away
peacefully Friday, August 15, 2014 at Hospice
House of North Idaho, with family at her bedside.
She was born March 22, 1931 in her grandparent's
farmhouse in Bowman, North Dakota, to Clara
Nettie Annie Gross.
At the age of four, Betty's entire family
relocated from Bowman, North Dakota to Bonners
Ferry, Idaho, due to the Dust Bowl in 1935. She
wrote of her memories as a child of four years
old: "Goodbye North Dakota. The family was
loaded into an old truck that had a cover over
the back like a covered wagon. I remember
looking out the back through the opening and saw
all of the brown fields. Grandpa Gross had lost
his land due to the Dust Bowl and the family was
relocating to Idaho where land was available at
a good price."
Betty graduated from Bonners Ferry High School
in 1949. Betty and Gene were married on November
23, 1952. They purchased and operated his
family's dairy farm in Copeland, Idaho. In 1963,
they moved their family to Spokane, Washington,
where Gene pursued a technical degree in
commercial baking. Betty and Gene then operated
the Thrift Grocery bakery in St. Maries, Idaho,
Leonard's Bakery in Veradale, Washington, and
Blue Mountain Bakery in Dayton, Washington.
Betty graduated from North Idaho College in
1983, with an Associates Degree in Early
Childhood Development. Then, she achieved an LPN
Certificate.
Betty was known best for her love of God and her
selfless generosity and dedication to family and
friends. She truly will be missed by all who
knew and loved her.
Betty is survived by her two sisters, Vivian
Irwin of Bonners Ferry and Geri Helm-Springer of
Lewiston, Idaho; brother Butch Padgett of New
Meadows, Idaho; four daughters, Margaret Cultice
of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Pamela Onstott of Post
Falls, Idaho, Clareen Franke of Pullman,
Washington, and Eugenia Pittman of Lewiston,
Idaho; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren
(and one on the way). She was preceded in death
by her husband, Eugene (Gene) R. Long, April 13,
2014; mother, Clara Gross-Padgett-Hickock,
Bonners Ferry; sisters, Genevieve Kenworthy,
Waitsburg, Washington; Hazel
Nieuwenhuis-Thomson, Clifton, Texas; and brother
Archie Padgett, Spokane, Washington.
Viewing will be held Friday, September, 29 at
English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls, Idaho at
12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will
be held on August 30 at 10:00 a.m. with burial
to follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Post Falls. A
reception provided by her daughters will follow.
The family suggests memorial contributions be
made in lieu of flowers to The Hospice of North
Idaho in Hayden, Idaho. |
|
|
|
|
