Betty Boyd memories

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

I met Betty Boyd shortly after she moved to Columbia Falls from Libby 15 years ago.

It did not take long for Betty to become involved in volunteer work.

She finally declared Wednesdays as her day off. However second Wednesday afternoons were Beulah Circle sessions at United Methodist Church and she was an active member. She was always available if we required a fourth at our Wednesday afternoon pinochle sessions.

Betty probably helped more area residents in 15 years than some of us residing here 50 or 60 years. She was not a headliner and most were unaware of her hundreds of hours volunteer work in the community. Only headline was if she won high or prize at Monday night pinochle. She was longtime committee member for these parties at the Senior Center.

She worked every Tuesday morning at the Klothes Kloset. Betty baked items for volunteers to enjoy with their coffee breaks and always provided birthday cakes.

Our Sunday pinochle/dinner foursome enjoyed wiener roast and playing pinochle at Apgar campgrounds several times.

One cold Sunday, Betty told us not to bring anything as she was having an indoor picnic at her home. She deliberately burned wieners while frying them, served baked beans, potato salad, and we used paper plates and plastic forks. We toasted marshmallows over the electric burner and made delicious some-mores for dessert.

We enjoyed her huge, complete hummingbird scrapbooks one day before playing pinochle. Hummingbirds decorated her apartment, plus hummingbird insignia on her car and sign near her front door. She is the only grandmother I know wanting a Grizzlies sweatshirt for Christmas.

Hobbies included crossword puzzles, Norwegian Harbinger, other embroidery, gardening, making centerpieces for Methodist bazaars. She was an independent lady, but did not learn to self-serve gas. She was proud her daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Randy Bocksnick, did it.

Betty helped make greeting cards every Friday morning at the Senior Center. She enjoyed Jammers Friday afternoons.

This is also the lady fixing early morning breakfasts for an elderly neighbor unable to make her own. Betty also helped Rosemary Oettinger with her pot holder sales at Catholic bazaars.

She put out apartment garbage container, shoveled her driveway, sidewalks, had attractive flower bed and assisted others with theirs.

Betty was attending a party with 25 or 30 friends from the Methodist Church, Klothes Kloset, Senior Center, when she became ill and unresponsive Tuesday. She passed away Thursday.

We miss her sense of humor, cute giggle and friendly ways.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident of Columbia Falls and a Hungry Horse News columnist.