Elizabeth 'Betty' M. Andrews, 90
Elizabeth "Betty" M. Andrews, 90, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, as result of a fall Monday evening.
She was born Jan. 22, 1917, to Mary E. McLaughlin and John J. McLaughlin in Atlantic City, N.J. Her mother, a telephone operator at the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, raised her in Philadelphia as a single mom. Mary had a large supportive group of family and friends who shared their homes and hearts and helped shape Betty's life.
After high school, she joined her mom at the Bulletin, where she was surrounded by wonderful friends. Together they grew from single young girls to wives and mothers, moving from exchanging recipes to exchanging pictures of great-grandchildren.
Betty and her husband, Robert "Bob" L. Andrews, had three children, Robert, James and MaryJean. Her love for family was equaled only by their love of her. After Bob's death, she moved to Montana in 1983 to join her daughter's family here, returning often to Philadelphia. When she no longer could travel to be with family there, they traveled west to spend time with her, even packing up newborn twins to see their great-grandmother.
We saw Betty's adventurous spirit when, as a young woman, she drove her car "Daisy" everywhere, with her beloved dog, Frisky, at her side. She met Bob while canoeing on the river in Valley Forge, Pa. During their years together, they explored the corners of the country, from Alaska to Florida, often with a canoe on the roof of a car laden with camping gear. Their love of adventure was contagious, and each generation follows in her footsteps, thinking of nothing of a "sister trip" to Paris, a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, or a swim with whale sharks in Mexico.
She will be missed by her Kalispell family: Daughter, MaryJean Welling and husband, Mike; granddaughter, Sarah Schussler, and her husband, Joe; and great-granddaughters, Jezalyn and Jadyn; her Denver family: Granddaughter, Rebecca Thingelstad, and husband, Blane; and her Boyertown, Pa., family: Son, James Andrews, and companion, Ingrid Weil; grandson, Clint; grandson, Robert and wife, Penny; and great-granddaughters, Stephanie and Ashley.
She will be buried in Pennsylvania next to her mother, husband and son, Robert, all of whom preceded her in death.
The family would like to thank all the wonderful people of Kalispell, friends and strangers, who were so kind and made her feel so special and who helped make each of her days a unique adventure.
No memorials, please. Hug a kid, take a mom to lunch … celebrate your family!