Betty Taylen

Visitation in Miles City: Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Visitation in Forsyth: Friday, April 15, 2011 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth.

Funeral Services: Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Bible Church in Forsyth.

Interment: Hysham Vale Cemetery in Hysham.

Betty Ann Halland Taylen 90, of Miles City, formerly of Hysham, Forsyth and Bozeman passed away Thursday April 7, 2011 at Holy Rosary Extended Care in the company of family members by her side.

Betty was born July 20, 1920 in Butte, MT at Murry Hospital to Minni Gynell Johns Halland and Edward Norton Halland. Betty was sister to Dicky, David and Edward Halland. Betty first attended McKinley Elementary Grade School in Butte. The family moved to Billings when Betty was age 12 where she attended Billings Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1938.

Betty spoke of fond memories of high school telling of how she and her friends walked everywhere. They went to 25-cent movies, ate hot dogs and drank 5 cent cherry colas out of glass bottles that if you returned the empties you could get 2 cents back. She stated that when going out everyone always dressed nice; they wore gloves, high heels and hats. Like most families, her parents expected her to finish high school, go to college and pursue a career.

After graduating high school Betty entered the nursing program at the University of Washington in Seattle, later transferring to Montana State University, Bozeman where she graduated as a Med Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. During her summer break in 1942 she worked the fountain at the historic Hamilton store in West Yellowstone at Old Faithful. She always told stories of wild bears coming right up to the door of the store.

After college Betty and her best friend went to the Navy recruitment office to find information on becoming a nurse in the Navy. Betty thought that it would be a great opportunity to practice her newly earned lab tech skills and to serve her country. Betty enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a WAVE but later discovered that her friend had not enlisted. Betty served during World War II in the South Pacific Theater from 1944 to 1946. She was stationed stateside in Flat Bush, NY at Floyd Bennet Airfield. She served as a nurse/lab tech. in a medical lab which ran blood tests for malaria on sailors returning home. Betty's naval unit was recognized several times for being the best and most uniformed marchers and was awarded the privilege of caring a special flag recognizing her units efforts. Bettys two most vivid memories during her service were marching for hours in all kinds of weather and the day that over five thousand Navy nurses stood at attention for two hours waiting for President Franklin D. Roosevelt to arrive. He showed up late, and only waved out of his car window as he was driven by all of the patient nurses. Betty said that joining the Navy allowed her to meet a variety of interesting and skilled people. It afforded her the opportunity to travel and to apply her skills.

After serving her tour in the Navy Betty worked as a lab tech in Billings MT, La Jolla and Palo Alto, CA and Bozeman MT. Bettys happiest time was when she met Armour (Bill) William Taylen. They married on Feb. 4, 1954 in Las Vegas, NV. After their honeymoon they made their home in Hysham, MT where Bill farmed and ranched in the Meyers area west of Hysham. They lived on the farm until 1955 when they moved to Bozeman so Bill could attend college at MSU Bozeman. After Bill graduated in Ag Business in 1959 they moved to Missoula MT. In 1961 they moved back to Bozeman where they worked and raised their family of four children.

For several years Betty participated in the Bozeman Salvation Army Dress a Doll Contest in which she won several first place ribbons for her creative efforts. Her entries brought top dollar at the doll auctions where the proceeds were used to purchase school supplies and new clothing for less fortunate children in the area.

In 1992 Betty and Bill retired to Hysham and resided there until 2001 when they moved into the Rosebud Health Care Center. Bill passed away in 2003 and Betty continued to live there until October 2006. She moved to Miles City into Holy Rosary Extended Care where she could be closer to her daughter. Betty was very active in all of the activities including bible study, bingo, arts and crafts and was a member of the Cow Town bell ringers group at Holy Rosary. Betty performed in many seasonal concerts and several parades including the Bucking Horse and the Fourth of July.

Once asked by Bettys oldest granddaughter Amber what were some of her fondest memories of her life, Betty replied, summers on Flat Head Lake, riding the hay wagon at her aunt and uncles farm, visiting Columbia Gardens in Butte and riding the roller coaster for 10 cents a ride, looking at all of the beautiful flower gardens, picnics and fishing trips with her family and friends, taking Sunday rides after church services. And sometimes just sitting still, spending time with her children or reading a good book.

Betty was a kind and compassionate woman, a wonderful mother and loving wife who was very active in the lives of her children and who loved the Lord. Her great love was cooking and sharing her good cooking with others. Bettys favorite flowers were Lilly of the Valley, White Shasta Daisies and wild Yellow Roses. Betty had a beautiful whistle and could be heard whistling tunes all through the house. Betty was active in the Presbyterian Churches of Bozeman and Hysham, the Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman and the Community Grace Bible Church of Forsyth.

Betty will be greatly missed by all who loved her including her extended family at Holy Rosary Extended Care.

Betty is survived by her brother Ed Halland of Missoula MT, her four children: Diana (Bill) Chalkley of Pocatello ID, Phillip (Lynn) Taylen of Alberton MT, Gale (Tony) Ackerman of Miles City MT, Bill (Deana) Taylen of Bozeman MT, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 15, 2011 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Bible Church in Forsyth officiated by Phillip Taylen, Bettys eldest son.

Interment will follow in the Hysham Vale Cemetery in Hysham. Reception to follow and interment in the Hysham CemeteryIn memory of the life of Betty Taylen and in lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Holy Rosary Extended Care, 2600 Wilson Street, Miles City, MT 59301.