Betty Coffin
<p>Betty Coffin</p>
Betty Coffin
85
Betty Lee Coffin, “Miss Betty,” died on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby. She was surrounded by love and good wishes. She was born to Edna Mae Pritts on July 14, 1930, in Akron, Ohio. Her early years would be spent in Ohio and California, where she experienced the harsh reality of the Great Depression and WWII.
At the age of 21, Betty married her first husband Richard Benoit Cholette and moved to New Hampshire, where she would pray for a little girl. In 1954, Betty got her wish, Patricia Cholette would be her first and only child. The two would return to California to be with Betty’s mother and to find employment. Betty was a woman not afraid to work, from diners to restaurants and sailor bars, Betty was a waitress wherever she could be. Life would bring Betty to be employed at an amusement park in Long Beach, Calif., which was one of the biggest joys of her life. These were some of her happiest years where she, her mother and her daughter forged a bond built on struggle, stubbornness, strength and love.
In 1970, Betty married her second husband Mike Coffin and moved to Inglewood, Calif. At this time she would find God and spend her time teaching Sunday school, helping women and other missionary work. Betty moved in 1989 to Salem, Ore., with her husband, to follow her daughter and family. Willamette University hired her as a house mother and she would fondly talk about her “Beta Boys”
Unfortunately in 2000 Betty suffered two heart attacks and was given a grim prognosis: Six months. She packed her bags and moved to Montana, where she would shock the doctors by getting off of her oxygen within two weeks. Her days were spent with the locals, at the lake in town or in her favorite hangout, The Halfway House. Miss Betty was born, and she came with a big stick. Her pride and her joy was her family, from her daughter to grandchildren to great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her mother Edna Mae Pritts, husband Mike Coffin and son-in-law Dale Myers.
She is survived by her daughter Patricia Myers; grandchildren Amber Mitts, Brandon Adams (Jessica Adams) Blair Adams, Jordan Hall, and great-grandchildren Taylor Mitts, Haven Mitts and great-grand baby Quincy Brittain.
Betty was an example of how someone should live their life: Work hard, have fun, eat good and pet all the animals you can find.
We will miss you mom, grandma, friend and confidant.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at the Halfway House Bar and Grill on Bull Lake Road in Troy. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.