Betty Knudsen Borden

CHARLO – Betty passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2013. She was born Oct. 1, 1927, to Frank and Edna (Damson) Marottek. Mom grew up riding her horse in the badlands of eastern Montana.

She went to school in Poplar, college in Havre and taught school for a short period of time. She married Cliff Knudsen in 1947. They lived in Poplar, Columbia Falls and Charlo, where they owned a dairy farm. During this time, Betty and Cliff raised five children. They spent many evenings playing cards and visiting with their many friends and family. In 1980, Betty married Richard "Dick" Borden. They were very busy camping, fishing, picking huckleberries, traveling and enjoying their family.

Betty was very active with the Leon Ladies Aid and in her later years, she enjoyed going to the Senior Citizens Center in Charlo and playing pinochle with the gang there. She was very competitive but was always a gracious loser – not that she lost very often. Mom liked to travel. She went to Israel, Ireland, Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Hawaii and points in between. Having a son in Alaska, she made many trips north enjoying the fishing and scenery. While there she was making new friends and visiting with her grandchildren.

Mom enjoyed dancing, quilting, fishing, picking huckleberries, camping and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gramma, G Dawg, Gma Betty, as she was affectionately known, loved teaching them to play cards, fish, sew and bake. She also enjoyed playing numerous games with them and watching them participate in all their activities. Everyone will miss her infectious laughter.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Cliff Knudsen and Dick Borden; brothers, Frank Marottek Jr., Pete Marottek and sister Mildred Cory.

Betty is survived by her children, Rick (Sue) Knudsen of Potomac, Dave (MK) Knudsen of Alaska, Rick (Mary) Borden of Hamilton, Kathy Knudsen (Tom Deveny) of Missoula, Jim Knudsen (Janell Ward ) of Missoula, Sheryl Knudsen Kain of Charlo (Cody Spence); a sister, Della (Barlow) Colgan of Poplar; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

A memorial will be held at the Charlo Senior Center Monday, May 27 at 3 p.m.

Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Read Betty Borden's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.