Betty Blades

Betty Blades, 72, was called home by the Lord on Feb. 22, 2009. The most caring, selfless and loving people are not easily described and yet so easy to know, feel and remember. Our much-loved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Betty (mom, grandma) was known as such a person. Her family and friends have comfort in knowing she passed quickly and without suffering.

Betty was born Sept. 22, 1936, in Titusville, Penn., to Mabel and Leon Gray. As a small child, she moved with her family to Whitefish. Betty grew up having many loving friends. She attended Whitefish High School, graduating in 1954, and subsequently studied accounting at the University of Montana in Missoula.

She married Roger Blades in 1957 and later divorced. She had three children from that union. Betty spent several years in Columbia Falls, raising her three children and enjoying her friends and family.

In 1973, Betty moved to Boise, Idaho, and made many friends and found many interesting and fulfilling jobs. Many highly praised Betty for her efficiency and work ethic. Her past occupations included bookkeeper, administrative assistant, auditor, loan underwriter, real estate agent and personal business owner. In the 1970s and 80s Betty worked at a variety of places including the Idaho State Legislature, the Governor of Idaho’s office and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

In 1980, Betty returned to Montana and designed and built a home in West Glacier. Keeping the home, she spent several years in San Bruno, Calif., where she worked as a loan underwriter. 

When she returned to Montana, she assisted her son in his hot air balloon business and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Betty went on to sell real estate in the area and found pleasure in helping match property and homes to her customers. After Betty divorced, she retired and moved to Gig Harbor, Wash., and later found her home in Longview, Wash. 

Betty enjoyed traveling to see her children and grandchildren living in Idaho, Montana and California. She also enjoyed frequent visits with her brother Richard and friend Kathleen.

She embraced her Iroquois and Scottish ancestry and spent many hours researching these special branches of her family and shared what she learned with her children, grandchildren and nieces so they could also embrace this part of themselves.

Betty is survived by her daughter Belinda Day and husband David; grandchildren Don Day and Elissa Day all of Boise, Idaho; son Lee Blades of San Francisco, Calif.;  son Mitch Blades and wife Sandy; grandchildren Sheila Hafer and husband Jessie; great-grandchildren Sage and Aspen; Shelly McConnell and husband Craig and great-grandchild Benjamin, all of Kalispell; brothers Richard Leon Gray of Randle, Wash., and Charles Gordon Gray and wife Ginger of Clarkston, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Mabel and Leon Gray, and sister Dorothy Moreno.

A small private celebration of life was held in her honor at her request in Longview, Wash., at Steele Chapel and Memorial Park.