Betsy Kuntz

Following a long struggle with her health, Betsy May (Padden) Kuntz was escorted by angels just four days after her 78th birthday. . Betsy May Padden was born September 28, 1929, at Camp Crook, SD at her grandmother#8217;s home. She was the second of four children of Easton and Sylvia (Davis) Padden. She attended the country schools at Rema and Plainview along with her siblings near the family ranch on the Tie Creek eight miles from Camp Crook. The family moved to Ekalaka to attend high school and she graduated with the class of 1947 from Carter County High School. Following graduation she attended Presentation School of Nursing in Miles City and received her Registered Nurse Diploma in 1951. It was during her nurses training that she met the love of her life Valentine Kuntz, while he was hospitalized at Miles City and they were married April 3, 1951 a union that lasted 56 years and blessed them with nine children. She worked as a registered nurse at Hettinger, ND, Belle Fourche, SD and later some private duty nursing, but her true devotion was her family and assisting her husband with his business. In the early years she helped her husband with the Kuntz Sawmill, at Camp Crook and did the selling of lumber and accounting, then after her husbands logging accident she assisted him with his construction Company, again doing the paperwork until he retired in 1999. She also spent the summers managing their motel, Geyser Cabins at West Yellowstone, MT. She loved to #8220;coffee#8221; and visit, and was an excellent cook, known for her ability to create a meal out of a little flour and whatever else she could find. She knew no strangers and everyone was a friend, anyone was welcome at her table in her home. She was willing to share her experiences and what they taught her in hopes of helping others. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Paul Padden and a grand-daughter Jacqueline Brooke. Grateful to have shared in her life are her husband Val, and nine children; Cheryl (Doyne) Perry of Henderson, NV; Valory (Orman) Lende of Eaton, CO;, MT, Theresa (Daniel) Brooke of Miles City, MT; Donald (Robin) Kuntz of Ekalaka, MT; Ronald (Kathleen) Kuntz, Kigali, Rwanda; Rebecca (Jeff) LeBrun of Columbus, MT; Monica (Dean) Peterson, Thomas (Susanne) Kuntz, Douglas (Diana) Kuntz all of Belgrade; her sister Carol McKinley, Lansing IL; her brother Benny (Dorothy) Padden of the family ranch at Camp Crook, SD; also,19 grandchildren; and 5 great grand children, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Rosary and Vigil service will be held 7:30 pm Sunday, Oct 7, 2007 at the Valley of Flowers Catholic Church, the Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 am, Monday, October 8, 2008 at Valley of the Flowers Catholic Church in Belgrade. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dahl Funeral Home in Bozeman, MT Condolences may be sent to the family at www.dahlcares.com. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of ones choice