BETTY JO KUNTZ obituary

CHESTER/LAKESIDE - Betty Jo Kuntz, 81, of Lakeside, formerly of Havre, died Saturday, May 14, 2005, at her home with her family at her bedside.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow in the Chester Cemetery. A

separate memorial service will be held for Betty at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Eidsvold Lutheran Church at Lakeside.

Betty was born June 2, 1923, in Rudyard to Robert and Josephine (Saueressig) Phillips. She grew up on the family farm at Goldstone and received her early education at nearby country schools. Betty graduated from Joplin High School in 1941.

In the years that followed, she worked as a partswoman at Valley Motor Supply in Havre. While there, she met Reuben C. "Don" Kuntz. They were married Sept. 11, 1947, at Kalispell. The Kuntz's made their home in Havre for 26 years. In addition to being a homemaker, and mother of five children, Betty was employed in the parts department at Eaves Equipment Company, and later as a clerk at Owl Drug Store.

Don's work took them to Chester in 1973. While there, Betty was employed at Liberty Drug Store. Don and Betty retired in 1990, and moved to the Flathead Valley to a home at Lakeside where they have lived since.

When her children were growing up, Betty spent most of her free time with her children volunteering in such activities as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. She loved spending time with both her children and grandchildren as an eager participant in card games, board games, lawn games and other family activities. She also enjoyed league bowling with friends. She was a creative person who loved handiwork, including sewing, knitting, crocheting, ceramics and painting. She also enjoyed gardening, camping and fishing. After moving to Lakeside, Betty joined a ladies card club and looked forward to the regular pinochle matches

Betty was a great cook. She took a special interest in learning computer skills in her late 70s, and spent many happy hours online with friends and family. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dearly, and spent a large share of her time bragging about their accomplishments and good deeds.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Howard and Robert Phillips, and sister, Eleanor Lambing.

Survivors include her husband, Don Kuntz of Lakeside; sons, Ronald (Darlene) Kuntz of Forney, Texas, Robert (Sherry) Kuntz of Helena, Dennis (Darla) Kuntz of Havre and Dale (Robin) Kuntz of Keller, Texas; daughter, Janet (Adrian) Hawks of Chester; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers, Gene Phillips of Idaho and Rodney Phillips of Fairfield; pet cat, "Cookie"; and many nephews and nieces.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.