Bette Juanita Thompson Cathro, age 90, of Broadus passed away on October 10, 2013 at the Tender Nest Assisted Living Home in Billings, with her family by her side.
Bette was born on June 19, 1923 in Pasco, WA to Mary Vaughn Winder and Clarence Thompson, the oldest of three children. She attended school in Ohio and Idaho graduating from high school in Twin Falls, ID in 1941.
Bette was working at a hotel in Twin Falls, ID as a clerk when she met Gordon Cathro at the County Fair in Filer, ID in 1941 and they were married in Tucson, AZ in 1942 where Gordon was taking naval training. Son Ronald Andrew Cathro was born September 1943 in Twin Falls, ID and daughter Susan Diane Cathro was born February 1950 in Long Beach, CA. Bette was a housewife and mother until she and Gordon divorced in 1966. At that time she went to work in the mail room at Long Beach Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, CA. When President Nixon was a patient at the hospital in 1974 Bette was the only person allowed to handle his mail.
In 1972 Bette met Carl Meyers and they spent many happy years together until his passing in 1990. After she retired she moved to Cherry Valley, CA to live with her brother Bob and help take care of their mother. After Mary’s passing in 1995 she continued living with her brother until moving to Broadus, MT in May 2007 to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Susan was always the apple of her mother’s eyes, and loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Bette’s hobbies included gourmet cooking, baking (especially her famous cheesecake), gardening (especially her fruit trees, rose bushes and African violets), jigsaw puzzles (especially with her great granddaughter Melinda) and playing solitaire. She was an excellent seamstress and she loved making Christmas decorations. Christmas was Bette’s favorite time of year. She was also a Brownie/Girl Scout Leader in her daughter’s troop. She loved animals of all kinds (especially her brothers Kairn Terrier dogs), the LA Lakers, Christmas and ball room dancing. Bette also had a love for butterflies, acquiring quite the collections over the years. Bette and her son in law Johnny always enjoyed teasing each other often, creating many fun filled times of laughter sitting out on their deck.
In addition to her parents, Bette was preceded in death by her step father Bill Lund, a brother Clarence (Bob), a sister and brother-in-law Charlotte and Robert Van Engelen, son Ronald, her husband Gordon Cathro, and companion Carl Meyers. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Susan and Johnny Richards, grandson Michael Richards, granddaughter Michelle Richards, great granddaughter Melinda Lanning, niece Judy (Doug) Pollow, nephews Bill (Diane) Van Engelen, Gary (Pam) Van Engelen, Dave (Debbie) Van Engelen, John (Susan) Van Engelen, Dane and Nancy Meyers and Shelly and Steve Nemeth. She is also survived by special friend Shelly Mangen, a special little girl named Raegan, and her extended Montana family.
Services will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 11:00 am at Stevenson and Son’s Chapel in Broadus. A luncheon will follow at the VFW Hall. Interment will be held at a later date. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Powder River Manor, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Broadus, or Scramble For a Cure, c/o Tyler Gardner, 20 Gardner Road, Ashland, MT 59003. Should friends desire, condolences may be sent to the family by visiting:www.stevensonsonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday October 26, 2013
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, MT 59317
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday October 26, 2013
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, MT 59317
Share
Laura Lee Ullrich says
Our sincere sympathy for you all at the loss of your mother and grandmother. May your precious memories sustain you through the tough days ahead. Remember many of us are with you in prayer and support. Betty was quite a lady and will be remembered by so many with such warm thoughts.
Ed and Bev Schaffer says
Sue, Johnny, and family, we are so sorry to hear about Bette. I so enjoyed her at the nursing home, she was quite the lady. Our thoughts are with you, Susie, and I pray that with time you will have lots of wonderful memories. She will be missed!
Brenda Hopkins says
Sue and family I am so sorry for your loss. Sue, your mom was such a pretty and classy lady. She will be missed.
Veda says
Sue, John, Sorry to hear of your loss. Also sorry I never got to meet her.
Duane and Debbie Talcott says
Betty was a wonderful person, I enjoyed visiting with her at the Manor. She was so kind and giving, a true lady. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Cynde JoTrucano says
Johnny, Sue and Family, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. She was such a sweetheart and I truly enjoyed her. What a kind lady, I feel fortunate to have known her. Thinking of you
Pam & Dave Nisley says
Sue your sweet mother has left a warm lasting impression on me.
She was sitting with a friend that was alone. She knew this friend was not far from leaving this world, and told me ” I just could not leave her alone, I need to be here for her”.
Such a legacy!
Our prayers are with all of you, for comfort from our Lord and Savior, Jesus. May you feel His closeness and His loving arms envelope all of you during this time of loss and in the weeks and months to come. We care.
Sally Borla says
SUE AND FAMILY: SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE LOSS OF YOUR MOM–BETTE WAS A
VERY NICE LADY AND ALWAYS HAD A SMILE. I KNOW LIFE IS NEVER THE SAME WHEN
YOU LOSE YOUR MOTHER. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AT THIS
SAD TIME. GOD BLESS, SALLY
Alvin and Jo Raschkow says
Johnny, Sue and Family, Sorry for you loss, prayer and hugs to you.
Carmen Jablinske Knutson says
Sue and Family, Another treasure lost– Bette was a very special lady, she was a grand and beautiful lady. I’m so glad I had the chance to know her. She was pure Glam!! My deepest sympathy to all of you. Hugs- Carmen
Bill and Kara Lambert says
Sue, Johnny and family, sorry to hear of your loss. Sending you our sincere sympathies.
Vonnie Shannon says
Sue & family,
So sorry to read about your mother. With my sympathy.
Vonnie
J Johnson says
My sincere condolences to the family of Bette Juanita Thompson Cathro – May you find comfort in your loving memories, beautiful pictures and in recalling the many talents of Mrs. Cathro . God did not purpose that mankind suffer and die and has promised that a time will come when no one will say “I am sick” (Isaiah 33:24). Our loving Creator has promised that soon pain and death with be no more (Revelation 21:4). The promise of Paradise, the perfect conditions God originally intended for mankind in the Garden of Eden, will be fulfilled including God’s “will being done as in Heaven also up on Earth” (Matt 6:9, 10). Please find comfort in Bible promises of a hopeful future (John 17:3).
Tena Olson says
Sorry to hear about Bette. Loved her beautiful style & wonderful humor!
Robert Guengerich & Leonard Richardson says
Our condolences to your family. We have many good memories of good times
together while Bette lived in Calif. with her brother, Bob. May you find comfort
in the treasured memories that you have.