Betty Jo Palo, 81

Betty Jo Palo, 81, formerly of Billings, passed away Oct. 5, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. Betty was born Aug. 18, 1929, to Harold and Irene Donaldson in Great Falls, where she was raised and attended kindergarten through high school at Saint Mary s Catholic School. While attending high school, she worked as an elevator girl at the Rainbow Hotel. Betty met the love of her life, Andrew Terry Palo. They wed April 22, 1950. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Marines and they were stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, where their first child, Terri Anne, was born. Moving back to Montana in 1953, Betty Jo and Terry settled in Billings where they continued to raise a family. Betty worked as a legal secretary throughout her adult life while raising three beautiful daughters. Betty and Andy were very active in multiple community organizations, becoming lifetime members of the Elks Club, Exchange Club, Knights of Columbus and many more. They loved going dancing and listening to music. Many weekends in the 70s and early 80s were spent at their cabin in the Red Lodge area playing cards and enjoying the company of other cabin-goers. Betty was a beautiful woman. She was a stylish dresser and always had beautiful hair and nails. She loved decorating her home and had fine taste. She became widowed in 1987 and began to surround her life with visits from grandchildren and many close friends in the Billings area. She continued to work in her profession until retiring in 1993. In 2008, she moved to Kalispell to be with her daughter Janet and her house full of many four-legged creatures, one of which (Rocky the cat) became her constant companion until she moved into Brendan House in November 2009. She spent the last 10 months of her life being cared for by the most wonderful people in Brendan House. She loved her caregivers and they definitely loved her back. She had a very dry sense of humor and had her children and others laughing when you would least expect it. The greatest joy in her life was her grandchildren who happened to be all boys; she was always hoping the next baby born might just be a girl " which finally happened when the grandsons had babies. Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 37 years, Andy; and her dear friend, Leighton Herigstad. Betty is survived by her daughter, Terri Anne Money, and husband Ted, of Abbyville, Ala.; grandson, Kirk Gable, of Phoenix; grandson, Kent Gable and fiancee Susan, of Phoenix, and daughter Olivia; daughter, Barbara Kay Pritchett, of Livingston; grandson, Dustin James Pritchett, of Nashville, Tenn., wife Kaaren, daughter Zoey Elizabeth Pritchett, son Nolan James Pritchett, and son Reese Andrew Pritchett, due in October; grandson, Mason Cole Pritchett, of Chicago; grandson, Gabe David Geering, of Livingston; and daughter, Janet Palo, of Kalispell; and grandson, Tanner Falcon, and fiancee Chelsey, of Los Angeles. She is also survived by her brother, James Bud Donaldson and family, of Mount Vernon, Wash.; sister-in-law, Margaret Palo and family, of Grand Junction, Colo.; and cousin, Mary Marnin of Great Falls, and family. She also leaves behind her cat, Rocky. Betty s funeral service will be held at noon, Friday, Oct. 15, at St. Patrick s Cathedral in Billings. The Catholic vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. She will be laid to rest next to the love of her life, Andy, at the Holy Cross Cemetery. If you wish to make a memorial donation, it may be directed to Catholic Charities of Montana. Betty will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and friend. She will be forever missed.