Betty Louise Liebelt, age 86, went to be with the Lord on January 18, 2017 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care in Miles City.
Betty and her twin brother Raymond were born on October 13, 1930. Raymond always hated it when Betty teased him that she was 20 minutes older. They were born in Hammond, Indiana to Gertrude and AJ Marsh. When she was 5 years old they moved to Shelby, Indiana where she attended school.
When Betty was 14 she got her first job at a gas station/convenience store. One day a man stopped at the store and asked Betty to put some oil in his car. Betty, not knowing where to put the oil, poured it all over the motor. Closing the hood she said “there you go and have a nice day”. She never did learn where the oil went in a car.
Betty was 15 when her cousin Rena came to her and said “come to Montana with me. You have a lot of relatives you have never met”. So Betty packed up and got on a train and made the long trip to Montana. She moved to Fairview where she worked in a restaurant and had her own apartment and enjoyed meeting all the Montana relatives.
One day she was babysitting for her cousin Lucy Liebelt when Lucy’s brother-in-law Elmer came to help work the sheep. One thing led to another and Elmer and Betty were married on May 3, 1947. They were married 67 years. They lived in Savage, MT where they had two daughters, Gloria and Deborah.
In 1950 Elmer got the job with the Montana Highway Department and they moved to the Flowing Wells. The day they moved there was a big snow storm and they had to shovel snow out of the house before Elmer could go plow snow on the highway and Betty and the two girls stayed in the one room house with no heat and no lights. (They forgot to bring kerosene for the lamp.) So began their life at the Flowing Wells. During their time there 3 more joined the family; Bryan, Audrey and Mary.
They later moved to Sidney, then Glendive and finally Miles City. Betty was the Flowing Wells rest area caretaker for many years. While in Sidney she was a cook at the school, housekeeper at a hotel and a CNA at the hospital. In Glendive she was a housekeeper at the hospital. Betty and Elmer were maintenance and janitors at the Lutheran Churches in Sidney and Glendive. She enjoyed traveling to visit family. Betty spent the last few years at the Extended Care at Holy Rosary Hospital. She loved her time there and always had a full dish of candy for the CNA’s and Nurses. She loved to play bingo and she won a lot of stuffed animals for the grandkids to play with when they came to visit. Betty loved to crochet; you never saw Betty without a crochet hook and yarn in her hands. She was proud of the ribbons that she won at the fair for her crochet items.
She is survived by her children Bryan (Sheila Cramer), Riverton, UT, Audrey Bruckner, Miles City, MT and Mary (David) Denowh, Machesney, IL; her grandchildren Holly (Shane) Harbaugh, Lee (Charlotte) Billing, Ajay (Sally) Liebelt, Scott (Rebekah) Denowh, Joe Denowh and Matthew Liebelt; her great-grandchildren Chantel (Bill) Brooks, Skylar Harbaugh, Ashlie Liebelt, Brittany Liebelt, Brooke Garnes, Kendra Garnes, Jakob Denowh and Madelyn Denowh.; her great-great-grandchildren Edward Brooks, Shayna Brooks and Jaxson Harbaugh; one son-in-law Donald Pawlowski, sisters-in-law Christina Marsh and brother-in-law Chad Mellinger. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Elmer; 2 daughters Gloria Billing and Deborah Pawlowski; 2 sons-in-law Joe Bruckner and Randy Billing; her parents; three brothers Raymond, Clifford and Harry; 2 sisters Mary Alice Shinkle and Anna Marie Marsh; sisters-in-law Ada Marie, Betty, Virginia, Elsie, Alvinia, Bertha, Evelyn, Esther, Lydia, Dolly and Lucy; brothers-in-law Charlie, Alex, Arnold, Albert, Emil, Bob, Bill and several nieces and nephews.
A family to receive friends will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2016 from 4- 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in Custer County Cemetery. Condolences to the family may be sent by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com
If desired donations may be made to Holy Rosary Extended Care for Bingo games, because Betty loved to play Bingo.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday January 24, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City,
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, MT
Interment
Following Services
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, MT
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday January 24, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City,
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, MT
Interment
Following Services
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, MT
Huft Family says
Betty was a very special lady and I enjoyed her stories and wisdom. We will cherish our crocheted items from Betty. Thoughts and prayers to all of her family.
Debbie Weyer says
So Sorry for your loss. Betty & Elmer spent a lot of time out at Mom & Bob’s. Had lots of good laughs with them over the years. “DEATH leaves a heartache no one can heal, LOVE leaves a memory no one can steal” author unknown.
SY says
To the family sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in the memories and God’s loving arms. Psalms 46:1
gary and pat helm says
TO THE LIEBELT FAMILY OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU. BETTY WAS A GREAT LADY AND FRIEND. MAY SHE RIP LOVE THE GARY HELM FAMILY.
Bev Harbaugh says
So sorry to hear about Betty. What a sweet lady. Hugs and prayers to all of you.
Carolyn toeckes says
We are so sorry we will not be able to be there for you family. You will be in our thoughts
Brad and Sandie Green says
My heart is saddened today by Betty’s passing but she is have a gay old time with the crew in Heaven. Prayers for you all and so wish you lots of great memories to share
Gayle Diefel Skretteberg says
Very sorry for your loss Bryan, Audrey, Mary and family. Will miss Betty.
Al and Sandy Cameron says
Prayers for all of the family! Betty was a very special lady and has left a special legacy in the family, she has left behind.
Barbara Adjei says
To the family of Betty Liebelt. I am very sorry for your loss. God is a God of comfort. He invites us to come to him in times of distress. He comforts us with the hope that these stressful and painful times will come to an end soon. Revelation 21:3,4; Acts 24:15
Joyce Mohr says
Moms are very special people, and your mom, Audrey, was one of the sweetest ladies I ever met. You shared many happy memories with me, and I am so very grateful for that. Stay strong in your faith. As Barbara Adjei says, God is a God of comfort. He invites us to come to him in times of distress. He doesn’t give us more than we can handle. He is our Rock, and Comfort. I wish I could be there with you.
Renée Peterson says
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Phil and Darlene Shawver says
Sending Thoughts and Prayers for all of Betty’s Family.
Joe and Bev Murnion says
Our sympathy to all