Elizabeth 'Betty' Ann Symonds, 93

Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Symonds, 93, died at Billings Clinic on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, after a lengthy illness.

She was born Dec. 21, 1914, in Fort Morgan, Colo., to Herbert S. and Rebekah (Bird) Barringer. She was the third of six children. She was raised in Billings, where her father was superintendent of the Sugar Factory, and was a graduate of Montana State College in 1936 with a degree in business, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi.

On Aug. 5, 1937, she married John "Jim" W. Symonds, and they moved often in their early-married years following his career in construction. They moved to Nebraska in 1946, living in Grand Island and Omaha.

In 1971, they retired to their cherry orchard on the east shore of Flathead Lake. In 1992, they sold their cherry orchards and moved to Buffalo Hill Terrace in Kalispell. Her husband died in 1996.

In 2004, Betty moved to Mission Ridge Retirement Community in Billings to be near her daughter Susan. In February of this year she moved to The Vista.

Betty was active in the Episcopal church, as well as raising her family. She was a 52-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She enjoyed playing bridge and traveling with her husband.

Her husband, her parents, and a son, John B. Symonds, preceded her in death. Four of her siblings also predeceased her, Daniel Bird Barringer, Sarah Jane Haerem, Rebekah Bodi and Peggy Jacobson.

Her children survive her, Anne Vette, and her husband, Verl, of Littleton, Colo., Susan Keene, and her husband, Robert, of Billings, and James "Jim" W. Symonds, and his wife, Sue, of O'Neill, Neb. She also is survived by her four granddaughters, Kelley Bachman and Amy Cordova, both of Colorado, Rebekah Molloy of Ohio, and Anne Marie Kloppel of Billings. Betty was proud of her eight great-grandchildren. Her youngest sister, Julia Brumbaugh, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Mission Ridge in the Lillis chapel in Billings.

The family suggests memorials be made to the American Lung Association, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Cottey College Scholarship Fund, or the charity of donor's choice.

Cremation and arrangements are by Smith Funeral Chapels.