Betty Ruth Lee Babcock was born on March 11, 1922, in Aplington, Iowa, to Otis Forest "Bill" Lee and Ruth Travis Lee. She joined a 10-year-old brother, Cloyd "Sonny" Lee. At the age of 2, after her mother's death, Betty went to live with her uncle Elwood "Wood" Lee and his wife, Katherine "Nandy" in Glendive, Mont., where she lived until she married her high school sweetheart Tim Babcock on Sept. 21, 1941, in Las Vegas.
Betty became the first lady of Montana in 1962 and thus began her tireless work for the state she loved. She represented her state by writing the First Lady's cookbook from which proceeds funded several Montana projects, serving on Shodair's board of directors, becoming a member of the 1972 constitutional convention, serving as a Montana House representative in 1974, chairing the Montana Capitol Restoration Foundation, working with the Montana Historical Society, and representing Montana at 17 Republican conventions. Betty also belonged to the organizations Beta Sigma Phi, the PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
Betty was truly devoted to her family and friends. More than anything, she loved spending time with them and bragging about them to anyone who would listen. She was dedicated to her family's genealogy and spent a great deal of time researching and recording the history of her family. She was committed to the core to her causes and beliefs. She was a true patriot's patriot. Helping others succeed is what made her happiest. For her family she was the fun-loving matriarch, to her friends she was the one you could count on, and to everyone who met her, she was genuine and sincere. Her love of God, her dedication to her family and friends, and her unwavering commitment to her country and her state are what we will remember the most about Betty.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, former Gov. Tim Babcock; daughter, Lorna Kuney (Bill); grandchildren, Lee Ann Ruud (Monte), Tim Kuney (Tina), Ralph Kuney, Phoebe Winchester (Johnny) Mathew Fillinger; and great-grandchildren, Kate, Lizzy and Jon Ruud, Jack and Anna Kuney, Connor and Nevan Olson, Trace and Marlee Williams, and Cody, Dylan and Noemi Fillinger.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; Bill and Ruth Lee and Wood and Nandy Lee; her brother, Sonny Lee; and her daughter, Marla Kay Fillinger.
A Lying in State will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Montana State Capitol Building Rotunda, followed by a viewing from 3 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 512 Logan St. A Reception will follow the service from noon to 4 p.m. at Red Lion Colonial Ball Room. Private Burial will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Shodair Children's Hospital, 2755 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601, or to the Montana Capital Restoration Foundation. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Betty, please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Betty became the first lady of Montana in 1962 and thus began her tireless work for the state she loved. She represented her state by writing the First Lady's cookbook from which proceeds funded several Montana projects, serving on Shodair's board of directors, becoming a member of the 1972 constitutional convention, serving as a Montana House representative in 1974, chairing the Montana Capitol Restoration Foundation, working with the Montana Historical Society, and representing Montana at 17 Republican conventions. Betty also belonged to the organizations Beta Sigma Phi, the PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
Betty was truly devoted to her family and friends. More than anything, she loved spending time with them and bragging about them to anyone who would listen. She was dedicated to her family's genealogy and spent a great deal of time researching and recording the history of her family. She was committed to the core to her causes and beliefs. She was a true patriot's patriot. Helping others succeed is what made her happiest. For her family she was the fun-loving matriarch, to her friends she was the one you could count on, and to everyone who met her, she was genuine and sincere. Her love of God, her dedication to her family and friends, and her unwavering commitment to her country and her state are what we will remember the most about Betty.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, former Gov. Tim Babcock; daughter, Lorna Kuney (Bill); grandchildren, Lee Ann Ruud (Monte), Tim Kuney (Tina), Ralph Kuney, Phoebe Winchester (Johnny) Mathew Fillinger; and great-grandchildren, Kate, Lizzy and Jon Ruud, Jack and Anna Kuney, Connor and Nevan Olson, Trace and Marlee Williams, and Cody, Dylan and Noemi Fillinger.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; Bill and Ruth Lee and Wood and Nandy Lee; her brother, Sonny Lee; and her daughter, Marla Kay Fillinger.
A Lying in State will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Montana State Capitol Building Rotunda, followed by a viewing from 3 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 512 Logan St. A Reception will follow the service from noon to 4 p.m. at Red Lion Colonial Ball Room. Private Burial will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Shodair Children's Hospital, 2755 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601, or to the Montana Capital Restoration Foundation. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Betty, please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Betty Ruth Lee Babcock was born on March 11, 1922, in Aplington, Iowa, to Otis Forest "Bill" Lee and Ruth Travis Lee. She joined a 10-year-old brother, Cloyd "Sonny" Lee. At the age of 2, after her mother's death, Betty went to live with her uncle Elwood "Wood" Lee and his wife, Katherine "Nandy" in Glendive, Mont., where she lived until she married her high school sweetheart Tim Babcock on Sept. 21, 1941, in Las Vegas.
Betty became the first lady of Montana in 1962 and thus began her tireless work for the state she loved. She represented her state by writing the First Lady's cookbook from which proceeds funded several Montana projects, serving on Shodair's board of directors, becoming a member of the 1972 constitutional convention, serving as a Montana House representative in 1974, chairing the Montana Capitol Restoration Foundation, working with the Montana Historical Society, and representing Montana at 17 Republican conventions. Betty also belonged to the organizations Beta Sigma Phi, the PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
Betty was truly devoted to her family and friends. More than anything, she loved spending time with them and bragging about them to anyone who would listen. She was dedicated to her family's genealogy and spent a great deal of time researching and recording the history of her family. She was committed to the core to her causes and beliefs. She was a true patriot's patriot. Helping others succeed is what made her happiest. For her family she was the fun-loving matriarch, to her friends she was the one you could count on, and to everyone who met her, she was genuine and sincere. Her love of God, her dedication to her family and friends, and her unwavering commitment to her country and her state are what we will remember the most about Betty.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, former Gov. Tim Babcock; daughter, Lorna Kuney (Bill); grandchildren, Lee Ann Ruud (Monte), Tim Kuney (Tina), Ralph Kuney, Phoebe Winchester (Johnny) Mathew Fillinger; and great-grandchildren, Kate, Lizzy and Jon Ruud, Jack and Anna Kuney, Connor and Nevan Olson, Trace and Marlee Williams, and Cody, Dylan and Noemi Fillinger.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; Bill and Ruth Lee and Wood and Nandy Lee; her brother, Sonny Lee; and her daughter, Marla Kay Fillinger.
A Lying in State will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Montana State Capitol Building Rotunda, followed by a viewing from 3 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 512 Logan St. A Reception will follow the service from noon to 4 p.m. at Red Lion Colonial Ball Room. Private Burial will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Shodair Children's Hospital, 2755 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601, or to the Montana Capital Restoration Foundation. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Betty, please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Betty became the first lady of Montana in 1962 and thus began her tireless work for the state she loved. She represented her state by writing the First Lady's cookbook from which proceeds funded several Montana projects, serving on Shodair's board of directors, becoming a member of the 1972 constitutional convention, serving as a Montana House representative in 1974, chairing the Montana Capitol Restoration Foundation, working with the Montana Historical Society, and representing Montana at 17 Republican conventions. Betty also belonged to the organizations Beta Sigma Phi, the PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
Betty was truly devoted to her family and friends. More than anything, she loved spending time with them and bragging about them to anyone who would listen. She was dedicated to her family's genealogy and spent a great deal of time researching and recording the history of her family. She was committed to the core to her causes and beliefs. She was a true patriot's patriot. Helping others succeed is what made her happiest. For her family she was the fun-loving matriarch, to her friends she was the one you could count on, and to everyone who met her, she was genuine and sincere. Her love of God, her dedication to her family and friends, and her unwavering commitment to her country and her state are what we will remember the most about Betty.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, former Gov. Tim Babcock; daughter, Lorna Kuney (Bill); grandchildren, Lee Ann Ruud (Monte), Tim Kuney (Tina), Ralph Kuney, Phoebe Winchester (Johnny) Mathew Fillinger; and great-grandchildren, Kate, Lizzy and Jon Ruud, Jack and Anna Kuney, Connor and Nevan Olson, Trace and Marlee Williams, and Cody, Dylan and Noemi Fillinger.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; Bill and Ruth Lee and Wood and Nandy Lee; her brother, Sonny Lee; and her daughter, Marla Kay Fillinger.
A Lying in State will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Montana State Capitol Building Rotunda, followed by a viewing from 3 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 512 Logan St. A Reception will follow the service from noon to 4 p.m. at Red Lion Colonial Ball Room. Private Burial will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Shodair Children's Hospital, 2755 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601, or to the Montana Capital Restoration Foundation. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Betty, please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com.
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