Bette Jo Murray, 85

Bette Jo Murray, 85, passed away June 29, 2012, in Kalispell.

Bette was born Feb. 11, 1927, in St. Clair County, Mo., to Birdie and Harry Long.

She grew up in a farming family but spent most of her childhood in Colorado. She finished her schooling in Ordway, Colo., and then married the love of her life, Allen Murray. They raised four daughters and settled in Security, a suburb of Colorado Springs. Bette was active in PTA, Brownies, Girl Scouts and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Volunteer Fire Department in Security. She enjoyed playing bridge, sewing for her family and square dancing. When her children were all in school, she worked as a teacher's aide in Security schools.

After vacationing on Flathead Lake for several years, Bette and Allen bought Sunset Resort in Bigfork. Together they enjoyed their time boating, meeting new friends and the wildlife year-around. They looked forward to football season and loved cheering for the Denver Broncos together. They loved dancing to old country music and were complimented many times on their techniques. Their love for one another was apparent on the dance floor as they held each other close. In later years they enjoyed Scrabble, Yahtzee, Spider Solitaire and email.  Bette particularly loved the late night talks when their daughters visited.

Bette “has gone to join” Allen, her loving husband of 63 years; her sisters, Carlene Singer and Nelva Ritter; her brothers, Charlie, Clarence and Lane Long; her parents, Birdie and Harry; and her son-in-law, Dale Gifford.

She will be lovingly missed by her daughters, Sandra Rivera and Tino of Las Cruces, N.M., Barbara Allison and Bruce, and Karla Murray, all of Colorado Springs, and Deborah Gifford of Kalispell; her granchildren, Tara Castle, Melanie Reiner and Nathan, Marina Munoz and Daniel, Brian Dietz, Adreana Williams and Arthur, Shane Dietz and Victoria, Jacob Allison and Christina, and Colleen Allison; as well as her great-grandchildren, Rudy, Jordan, Brock, Elijah, Amber, Elizabeth and Isabella.

A special thanks to the Staff at Brendan House for the loving care they provided her. She developed many close friendships there.

Family services have been held.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family