Betty M. Adams

Betty Adams, 98, passed away on April 11, 2018, at The Springs in Whitefish, where she had been living since 2011.

Her parents, Roy Bethel and Effie McCabe Bethel, were living in Essex, MT, at the time of her birth.  Her father worked on the Great Northern Railroad as a fireman and then as an engineer. Her mother was a school teacher in Essex until her marriage.  Betty Mae was born on May 29, 1919. Two more sisters completed the family: Vera Margaret, born on June 17, 1920, and Sally Ann on March, 1932.
The family moved permanently to Whitefish and Betty completed her education and graduated from Whitefish High School in 1937.  She attended a business school in Spokane.

Betty was working in Seattle when she married her high school sweetheart, Frank Leslie Adams. Their daughter, Sally Louise, was born on July 10, 1943, at a time when her father was being deployed to England in preparation for the World War II Normandy invasion.  He did not live to see his daughter. 1st Lt. Frank Adams was killed in France on July 26, 1944.

Betty and her baby daughter returned to Whitefish where Betty began her career in banking with the 1st National Bank of Whitefish, located at 319 2nd Street. Betty served as a teller and as a loan officer during the last ten years of her employment. In 1982 she retired as a Vice President with 35 years of employment.

Betty was serious about being a responsible person.  She valued being on time and getting the job done! Her loyalty and love of family was shown in many ways such as caring for the needs of her parents as they aged, and using her banking skills to help older family members with taxes and financial issues.  She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school while her daughter was growing up. Betty delighted in the summer visits of her daughter Sally and her two grandsons. In retirement, trips with friends to the British Isles, New England states in the fall, and an Alaskan cruise brought her pleasure, but coming home to the remarkable beauty of the Flathead Valley made it the best place to live.

Her family will miss her influence, her laughter, and her wisdom.  Our love will always be with her.

Betty was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Frank Adams, and her sister Vera McCurdy.  Survivors include her daughter, Sally Sandvik (Steilacoom, WA), her sister, Sally Ann Bethel (Eugene, OR), and grandsons Mark Sandvik (Stacey, Steamboat Springs, CO) and Jon Sandvik (Dee, Steilacoom, WA) and nephew Michael McCurdy (Des Moines, WA), Betty was blessed with five great-grandchildren. Mark’s children: Jessica, 19; Addison, 17; and Erik, 13. Jon’s children: Ryan, 18; and Nolan, 16.

Contributions may be given to the memorial fund at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish, 5150 River Lake Parkway, Whitefish, MT 59937. Cards or notes may be sent to: Sally Bethel, 1444 E. 43rd. Ave, Eugene OR 97405. Memorial service is pending for a later date. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Austin Funeral Services.

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