Betty Louise Miller passed away December 14, 2017 at Holy Rosary Residential Living.
Betty was born August 9, 1918 in Hartford City, Indiana, to Joseph Earl Martelle and Mildred Louise (Murphy) Martelle. She was the second of nine children.
The family moved to the Miles City area when Betty was young and homesteaded near Garland, MT, later moving into town where Betty attended school.
Betty and Robert Walter (Bob) Miller were married September 12, 1936 in Miles City, Montana. They began a career of ranching together, first working on the SH Ranch on the Tongue River and later leasing places on the Tongue River and Liscome Creek. During this period, Betty cooked for ranch crews, raised a large garden, raised and sold turkeys, helped with the livestock, and home improvements. She even hand dug the sewer line for the septic tank when they finally got indoor plumbing.
Betty (at age 55) graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Montana College in June of 1973, after several years of weekend and summer courses at Miles Community College and Eastern Montana College. She taught at several rural schools including the S H Elementary, S Y Elementary, Kinsey, and Cohagen schools. She also spent several summers teaching at Pine Hills School. When Bob’s health deteriorated, Betty retired from teaching to care for him. After Bob’s death, Betty came out of retirement and taught a few more years at the Cohagen School. After her second retirement from teaching, she served as the District Clerk of the SH Elementary School.
In her later years, Betty enjoyed gardening, quilting and just staying at home sitting with her succession of poodles. When she was no longer able to live alone, she stayed for several years with her sister-in-law, Merna Martelle, until moving to Holy Rosary Residential Living.
Betty and Bob never had children of their own, but considered all of their nieces and nephews to be their children by default. Many of them spent weekends and school holidays at Bob and Betty’s. Several of the nephews spent summers working on the ranch.
Betty is survived by her brother, Joseph “Bud” (Helen) Martelle of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, her sisters-in-laws Jean Martelle of California and Merna Martelle of Miles City and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers James, Jacob, and Robert M. Martelle and sisters Martha Tyler, Carrie Leitholt, and Dorothy Jerrell and a sister at infancy.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 22, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday December 21, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Friday December 22, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment
Friday December 22, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Cemetery Road
MIles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday December 21, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Friday December 22, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment
Friday December 22, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Cemetery Road
MIles City, Montana 59301
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Martha Crandall says
My sympathy
Ivan says
I am very sorry to all who are affected by this loss. Coping with the loss of a loved one is probably one of the most difficult things to endure. Although it doesn’t remove the pain or bring our loved one back to us now, the bible offers much comfort and hope that our God has given us for the future.. At 1 corinthians 15:26 Paul wrote that the last enemy death would be brought to nothing. There is much more hope and encouragement to be found in the bible. Please take care and again very sorry for you loss
I’marhi says
“May you find comfort in knowing that your dear one is safe in the memory of God, who will remember every detail about him and bring him back again.” Psalm 34:18
Sharon Volkman says
Sorry for your loss, Merna
Dave & Deanna johnson says
Deanna and I would stop in and take Aunt Betty to lunch whenever we could get through the area while driving truck.
After returning from deployment in 2007 we made a special trip to take Betty to lunch on our shared birthday, sadly it would be the last time we would be able to make the trip.
She will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Arlene Corbin says
I loved my visits with Betty. She told such historical stories!!! I had tea with her every day when she was in care with my mama
Ruben and June Opp says
To all of Betty’s family, Our prayers and thoughts are with you all at this time. We know Betty is resting in the arms of God and free of all pain and suffering . May God bless and comfort you all now and in the days to come.
June and Ruben Opp
Bill Johnson says
Bob,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of SH School we wish to extend to you and all of Betty’s relatives our deepest sympathy for
your your loss.
Bill Johnson
Board Chairman
Jerianne and Craig Dunnam says
To the family of Betty Miller,
Betty and Bob Miller were very close friends of my parents Dick and Betty Chezum. Our entire family loved being invited for supper at their home on Moon Creek. They were always so welcoming and gracious. We will always remember Betty and Bob with happy memories. We are sorry for your loss.