Betty Thompson

Betty Gottlob Thompson passed away peacefully from natural causes on January 4, 2019 in Charlottesville, VA, just 16 days shy of her 100th birthday. Betty was born on January 20, 1919, in Livingston, Montana, the only child of Bessie and Frank Gottlob. Because her parents divorced when Betty was young, she spent most of her childhood in Big Timber with her father, yet had many wonderful experiences with her mother in Chicago. Betty loved her life in Big Timber, growing up on a ranch with her cousins who were near and dear to her heart. Riding a horse to school, making belts out of rattlesnake skins, and roaming the hills near the Sweetgrass Creek were such great memories for her. At the young age of 5, her parents would put her on a train from Big Timber to Chicago and back again so she could spend time with both of them. She loved remembering her days on the train being spoiled by the porters assigned to look after her, treating her with her two favorite foods - watermelon and shoestring potatoes! Her time in Chicago was often exciting, and as a young girl, riding in an elevator at her mother's hotel with Al Capone would be a favorite story to share with her family. She also grew up to be quite the sharp shooter, and at age 18, shot and killed a bear on a bridge in Silver Gate, MT. Her love for the mountains and Cooke City would remain with her throughout her lifetime. Betty married Bob Thompson, her high school sweetheart, on August 11, 1942 at Luccock Park, Livingston. They were married for 69 years and had three children, Nevada, Kim, and Carter. Betty was involved with scouts when her children were young and loved playing bridge monthly with her lady friends. She was so proud of her grandchildren, taking care of them after school and cheering for them at soccer games, often kicking her foot from the sidelines in attempts to help them score! At age 82, Betty decided she needed to keep up with the rest of the world and enrolled in a computer class so she could email her family and friends. After Bob passed away in 2011, Betty filled her time with puzzles, solitaire, gin rummy, and crosswords. She loved her time spent with family from MT to VA. There wasn't an animal or bird she didn't love or try to feed. Many times at Sunday dinners at Carter's, she would be caught sneaking food to the dogs, only to say that she must have dropped some food at one time and the dogs must have remembered it! In 2017 at the wonderful age of 98, Betty moved to Virginia to spend her last years living in the home of her daughter, Kim. It was there that she kept up her love of eating ice cream, taking exercise class at the YMCA, playing Bingo and winning her favorite jelly beans, and gaining a love of coloring. This lovely lady could light up the room with her smile and sweet disposition and did so her whole life. One cannot think of our sweet little Betty without smiling. We are thankful for her long, blessed and beautiful life. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and is survived by her daughter Kim Irons (Ralph) and their children Sarah and Carl, her son Nevada (Maggie), her son Carter (Katie) and their children, Libby, Max and Joey, and her two half sisters, Marilyn Michels and Kathryn Grapes. A celebration of life will take place on her birthday in Virginia and burial will be in the springtime in Big Timber. Memorials can be made to Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA, Adult Care, 708 North Coalter Street, Staunton, VA 24401.