Betty Stinger

Betty Bronwyn Stinger, 81, of Trego, passed away on Nov. 5, 2021, with her daughters by her side.

Betty was born to John and Charlotte Hice on Oct. 30, 1940, in Pittsburgh. She was an only child and graduated from Mount Lebanon High School and began her life adventures which took her first to Arizona where she and husband Howard Breinig had a son, Mark Breinig.

She later married Philip Lozier and together they had three more children, whom first son Mark loved to torment, Libertie, Chloe and Rex.

Betty’s heart led her to Montana in 1980 where she eventually married Nelson Westwood and for the next 20 years raised her children, acquired grandchildren, and ran multiple businesses together, including Westwood Christmas Trees, the Trego and Fortine Mercantiles, and a ranch with Tennessee Walking Horses, mules and cattle. After Nelson passed, Betty continued her legacy with the Fortine Mercantile still in the family today. She found loving companion and husband Kelvin Stinger and for 17 years they raised purebred Black Angus and enjoyed developing property together.

She was probably best known by most as the silver-haired lady that was wandering the aisles at the Fortine and Trego Mercantiles for the last 38 years. Betty was one hell of a classy lady; strong, independent, proud and steady with a dry sense of humor and intelligent wit. Her longest-standing passion was horses; she was raised taking lessons and had horses for almost the rest of her life. Her children and grandchildren best remember her as a leader; she encouraged independence and individualism.

“You can do whatever you set your mind to.” — Mom

She is survived by husband Kelvin and his grown children and their families; her legacy includes daughter Libertie (Rod) Barkley, daughter Chloe Westwood (Rob Miller), son Rex Westwood; daughters by marriage Jessie Breinig and Carrie Gorda; grandchildren Nathan Breinig and Megan Cuellar; Ashton Sands; Victoria and Jace Mrgich; Kayla Westwood; their respective spouses, and five (plus one on the way) great-grandchildren.

Betty was preceded in death by her son, Mark Breinig; and her granddaughter, Alexa Mrgich.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, Nov. 21, at noon at the Trego Community Hall in Trego. She will have a memorial headstone in the Fortine Community Cemetery in Fortine.