Bette I. Montgomery

Bette Irene Carothers began her life journey in Brookings, South Dakota, on April 25, 1927, to Grace Peterson and Floyd Carothers. In 1942, Bette moved to Oakland, CA, where she attended Fremont High School and met her life-long partner, Ree (Monte) Montgomery. The two married on April 12, 1945, in Alameda, CA. They became Salvation Army officers and were stationed in Oregon and Idaho before settling in San Leandro, CA, to raise their seven children. Bette became an active leader in Camp Fire Girls and has always been a proud soldier of The Salvation Army. In 1976, Bette and Ree moved to Pioneer, CA, and opened M&M Bookkeeping. Through the years, Bette became known for devotion to her husband, her faith in God, and her greatest achievement: her seven children. She entered many crocheted bedspreads, table cloths, and doilies in the Amador County Fair and won as many ribbons. Some residents may still have one of Bette's hand-crocheted cross bookmarks. On October 17, 2011, Bette (age 84) began her heavenly journey by joining those who passed on before: her parents, her husband of 64 years and their son, Donald, who died at the age of 2. Bette leaves behind her brother Robert Carothers of Bogotá, Colombia, and his wife Maria; son Robert Montgomery of Cody, WY, his wife Bonnie, and their son Robert and his wife Nina, and their children Megan, Gabrielle and Courtney; son James Montgomery of Rolling Hills, WY, and two sons Logan and his daughter Amaya, and Donald; daughter Catherine Giannini of Jackson, CA, her husband Mark, and children: Denyse Halvorson, her husband Jimmy, and their children Devyn and Ayden, Mark Patterson, his wife Natalie, and their children Jacob and Jordyn, and Laura Giannini; daughter Evangeline Moniz of Gilroy, CA, her husband Dennis, and children Christopher Moniz and fiancé Doris Kanemura, and Melissa Moniz-Talbert, her husband Brandon and children Thomas and Rylee; daughter Janissa Boesch of Jackson, CA, her husband Michael, and children Jeremy Tobin and his children Kaeden and Kaia, and Blaine Bowden and his son Maverick; and daughter Margie of Jackson, CA, and her daughters Lucia and Gianna Pinotti. Inurnment for both Bette and Ree will be held at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California, where they will rest beside their son, Donald. Send condolences to P.O. Box 412, Jackson, CA 95642. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Hospice of Amador & Calaveras, P.O. Box 595, Jackson, CA 95642 or to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 348000, Sacramento, CA 95834.