Betty Chezum

Visitation: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with the family to receive friends from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Funeral Service: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11:00 am at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Graveside Service: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 3:00 pm at the Knowlton Cemetery.

Betty Frances Grant Chezum, age 82, of Miles City passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at her home.

Betty Francis Grant was born to Grace Barbara and William B. Grant in Forsyth, Montana November 20, 1926. She grew up in Forsyth, spending time at her Aunt Thelma and Uncle Harold Pope's ranch on Tongue River and her Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Melby's ranch in Dayton, Wyoming. She still visits frequently with her cousin Wanda Melby Needens. Betty said they were a year apart as close as sisters.

Because her mother Grace made her living playing the piano for silent movies and events, Betty stood alone and sang the old songs u1ith her beautiful alto voice. A record of her songs was cut, but was misplaced over the years. When her husband Dick Chezum met Betty, she was 17 and singing at a country dance. They were married and had Teri, Jerianne, Sherm, Mary Beth and Barbara.

When Betty and Dick first built their house on Moon Creek, the neighborhood consisted of old time bachelors in every direction. They all loved to come in for a visit and meal. Hubert Harwood and Joe McGuire were bachelors at the time and got Betty started in cooking and baking. The rest she just learned on her own. Joe was stirring up dough for dumplings. Betty said 'What are you making, Joe?" He said "Doughmagods". She asked "What is that?" Joe answered, "Well you stir up this dough and say "Oh my God!" As children we also loved Joe's Bachelor Cookies which 'were baked like bars.

Betty's home always had room for all and was a celebration of life. Many extra children lived with us for a time. Visitors were many and made welcome. Dick McGuire and Sherm spent many hours together. She loved the community and held many offices in the Moon Creek Cowbelles. One of our early memories was of Betty singing "Tura, Lura, Lura" and ''When Irish Eyes are Smiling'" for a Cowbelles Irish Celebration. Cowboy Polo Games were held many Sundays along with potluck meals and sandhills full of kids. She was a fun loving mother. On stormy days we were allowed to build tent cities with blankets. Our Mother could sure read a story and make it come alive! We remember comic books and novels like '"'Nancy Drew" and ''The Bobsey Twins". As little children, we would beg her to make the car dance. (Loud music on the radio and keeping time with the accelerator.)

When Mother drove the school bus (no car dancing anymore) we listened to radio soap opera every morning. It was an ongoing story with parts being read by different voices and corresponding sound effects. Denny and Doug Wall and the Peila kids would jump in to catch up on the story. When we arrived at the Moon Creek School, we all sat there until the story was over for the day.

After Barbara was born, the dancing car, tent cities and stories came alive again for Barbara and the Anderson kids. Mom let Barbie have lots of sleepovers (Carrie and Rita, etc) just to have company around. The Grandkids and neighbor kids also got in on the above. We remember Misty dressing up as "Mrs. McGee" and Bill's acting stunts.When Barbara was in high school and living with Jerianne they found a great piano for Betty. Dad got his airplane and Mom her piano. The house had plenty of music from then on. Betty would play while Mary Beth taught Barbie to dance Polkas and the Schottische.

A special thank you to Dick and Jane and family and Dennis and Glenda for being such great caregivers.

Betty is survived by her children: Teri (Glenn) Heitz of Terry, MT, Jerianne (Owen) Jone's of Lakewood, CO; Sherman (Chris) Chezum of Miles City; Mary Beth (Myron) Kibler of Sand Springs, MT; and Barbara (Troy) Coyle of Park City, UT; two sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Anderson of Ismay, MT and Margaret (Barney) Jone's of Anchorage, AK; a step brother, Dale Grant of Denver, CO; and her step-mother Vivian Grant of Denver, CO; fourteen grandchildren, and twenty great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Chezum; and her parents, Bill Grant and Grace Shy.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with the family to receive friends from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11:00 am at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 3:00 pm at the Knowlton Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City has been entrusted with the arrangements.