Molly Betson, “one of God’s gentlest, kindest, most loving of living angels on earth has been called home to be with her Lord and Savior” on Feb. 8, 2016, in Kalispell.
As painful as it is to be without her, we take some solace in realizing that the relentless and inexorable fog of dementia (and its accompanying frustrations) has burned away in the light of a new morning’s brilliant warmth. And the creeping tendrils of pain from the sarcoma that ultimately claimed her, no longer seek her out to torture her.
Molly was born Feb. 7, 1930, in Aberdeen, Washington, and was raised in Aberdeen and Forks, Washington. She attended grade school and graduated from high school in Forks.
In 1948, she married Don G. Betson in Forks. They were married 45 years, until his passing in 1993.
Molly spent many years working at the Evergreen Middle School, first in the kitchen as one of the “lunch ladies,” and later as secretary in the main office.
Mom loved people and was accepted and held close by those same people nearly everywhere she went. Her church wrought special connections but none more so than her friendship with Betty Fountain who sort of “adopted” her after our father passed away. Thank you Betty for your love and care!
There was also her square dance family with whom she spent many happy hours. Even after her ability to dance started to fail her, she still enjoyed going to the dances and to the camp outs the club would have. She never missed an event because she had two very special friends — Karen Lee and Roger Jones made sure their love and concern for Mom was never in doubt. They took her to every camp out, encouraged her to attend every dance, and were her angels in so many ways! Thank you both so much!
Molly also dearly loved her grandkids and great-grandkids, and her flowers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don G. Betson; parents, Lloyd and Cora Iotte; brothers, Jack Iotte and Larry Iotte; and son-in-law, Ray Miller.
Molly is survived by her son, Jim Betson, of Kalispell; and daughter, Randi Miller, of Kalispell; grandchildren, Tami Engler and husband Scot of Montgomery, Illinois, Carla Williams and husband Craig of Kalispell, and Cori Soucie and husband Trevor of Bozeman; great-grandchildren, Dylan, McKenna and Hadley Engler, Cole and Caylie Williams, Conner Thompson, and Gauge and Vivian Soucie; her brothers and sisters, Dave Iotte and wife DeeDee of Forks, and Betty Schenfeld and husband Fred of Eugene, Oregon; and many nieces, nephews, greatneices and greatnephews.
Two years after our father passed away, Mom’s favorite flower — the small, sweet wild violet — started appearing in the grass of her yard. They had not grown anywhere near there for the previous 30-plus years and she was convinced (and remained so for the rest of her life) that they were a gift of love from our deceased father. They have continued to thrive and reappear each early spring to scent the air of warm days with a perfume unmatched. If she was correct and the violets were a gift from Dad, it would not surprise us to see those perfect little purple flowers slow their march across the lawn and, in a few years, disappear completely. It would only be right!
Take a much deserved rest, Mom. Dance with Dad through fields of violets and know that we all love you and will miss you the rest of our days.
Cremation has take place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Kalispell Church of the Nazarene, 1295 Whitefish Stage.
Mom’s entire life was devoted to children — hers as well as others. So, for memorials, anything for children would be great; but most especially Shriners Hospitals for Children, for all the fine work they do!