Betty Johnson

Strong and independent, kind and empathetic, always up for an adventure; Betty was a woman of integrity who was easy to love and easy to respect.

Our loving mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend Betty Johnson passed away on July 21st after a long fight with COPD and CHF. A trooper till the end and true to herself, she was cracking jokes and teasing the nurses in the hospital the day before she passed. Whenever she was in pain or when things were rough in her life, she would not let us know much less complain; she did not want us to worry about her.

Betty (Henrie) Johnson was born in Jackson Hole, WY to Alice (Hanks) and Clarence Henrie; she was the fourth of five children. The family moved to Jackson, MT where Betty had very fond memories growing up. She learned how to swim at Jackson Hot Springs and was an excellent swimmer. She often told us that she was just as comfortable in the water as she was on land. Just ask Kayla about the time Betty gave her a scare by diving into a lake when she was in her 70's.

As a teen, Betty attended BCHS before going off on adventures with her best friend, Mary, and her sister, Sara, to Seattle and then to California where she met Dick whom she married in 1967. Between them and together they had six children, becoming a blended family. In 1980 Betty and her family moved to Montana where she spent much of the 80's and 90's snowmobiling with Dick, Albert, and Lyla.

She was committed to being a stay at home mom until her children were all in school. Her career span included being a waitress, a cook, doing office work, and as an Optometric Assistant. She gave 100% to everything she did.

Betty treated friends and family alike and always had an open door policy, expecting you to just come in. If you knocked on her door, you would probably get yelled at. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the joy of her life; she just lit up whenever they came for a visit. Betty loved to banter with the kids as they got older and they were all for it knowing she could take what she dished out. Betty's adventurous spirit did not end as she grew older. The year she turned 75, she took up skydiving. Betty got a kick out of taking as many kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and friends as she could every year; always covering the cost for all of them.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Warren, LaVerne, Lyla, and Sara, her husband, and their oldest daughter, Karen. She is survived by her sister-in-law Pat Henrie, children Ron (Gina) Johnson, Warren Denny, David (Teresa) Denny, Dale (Janella) Johnson, and Cassie (John) Cornia as well as 15 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Betty will be held at Brundage Funeral Home on Friday, August 1st, at 11:00AM, preceded by a public viewing at 10:00AM. Graveside at Mountain View Cemetery and a luncheon at the LDS church will follow the funeral service.