Obituary - Betty J. Holden

Betty J. Holden, 91, passed away due to natural causes at the Northern Montana Care Center Sunday, April 14, 2024.

Cremation has taken place, and memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Havre Assembly of God Church with Pastor Joel Benson officiating. Burial followed in Highland Cemetery.

Betty's family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the charity of the donor's choice. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Betty's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family at https://www.hollandbonine.com .

Betty was born September 19, 1932, to Clyde and Pearl Moore, the sixth of eight children. She was raised on a little farm in Mountain View, Missouri, in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, where her father grew sorghum molasses and corn. Betty attended a little country school not far from home where she graduated from the eighth grade. She excelled in all areas of her studies, especially penmanship. However, not wanting to move to town to attend high school, Betty opted to stay on the farm and help out. She enjoyed working in the garden and helping in the corn fields.

Betty met her future husband, Ransom Holden, on a blind date arranged by Ransom's cousin, Paul Hergeshimer, who happened to be engaged to Betty's cousin, Alice. Six weeks later on September 4, 1951, Betty and Ransom were married in Salem, Arkansas, and immediately headed to Montana where Ransom was employed by the Great Northern Railroad. The couple set up housekeeping in Havre. Betty had never been more than a few miles from the farm, so this was a whole new world for her. They welcomed their first child, Don, in May of '53, then Ron in October of '54. Bonnie arrived in July of '60, and lastly Jon came in October of '65. The couple had been married 45 years when Ransom passed in 1996.

Betty became a nurse's aid in 1955, first working for the Sacred Heart Hospital, then the Northern Montana Hospital after the merger. In the fall of 1978, after working for 23 years in the medical field, Betty wanted a change. She then went to work as a baker at Lincoln-McKinley School. After a few years, she became the head cook, and then moved on to the high school to take over as the head of the school lunch program. Betty worked for the school district until her retirement in 2001, saying it was the best job she ever had. After she retired, she did a little traveling and volunteering at the foot clinic and the Senior Citizens Center.

Betty was a long-time member of the Havre Assembly of God Church, having served as the Sunday School Superintendent, taught Sunday School, directed plays, helped with the annual Harvest Dinner, and lead a ladies' Bible study group.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ransom; youngest son, Jon; son-in-law Kelly; parents; and all of her siblings.

Betty is survived by her sons, Don and Margaret (Stevens) of Billings and Ron and Lezlie (Bennett) of Havre; daughter, Bonnie (Holden) Benson of Havre; daughter-in-law Marcella (Springer) Holden of Havre; eight grandchildren, Becky, Eric, Michael, Michele, Sarah, Joel, Noland, and Nathan; 13 great-grandchildren, who knew her as Gigi; a special nephew, Shawn and Christy Holden of Havre; great-nephews, Jacob and Kendal; and an adopted son, Daryl Jones of Denver, CO.