Betty Deschamps

MISSOULA - Betty Amelia Hanscome Deschamps, one of four daughters of Charles Melville and Olga Hanscome moved on to her next adventure on January. 22, 2009, from St. Patrick Hospital. Betty was born in Nicolet, Minn. on March 24, 1918.





Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1940, she entered the military service as a United States Marine Corps second lieutenant. While stationed at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, North Carolina, she met a young Marine Corps pilot, G.W. “Por” Deschamps. That marriage produced four sons, Will, Charles, Perry and Armond. Upon coming to Missoula with her husband Por and first-born following the end of World War II, she became a partner in life, farming and ranching in Grass Valley for 35 years.





Mom spent winters with calves in the bathtub and on the kitchen floor and summers feeding 20 haying hands. She was quite literally the only woman within miles. Mom loved the water and spent many summers at the family cabin on Flathead Lake.





Mother enjoyed her free time reading, volunteering for St. Patrick Hospital Guild, the Montana Cowbells, traveling and was a proud member of the Hippy Moms. As an avid Grizzly fan, Mom rarely missed home football games or her Lady Griz basketball. From her high school annual: “Betty is youth, vital, and essential. Betty is, well, just Betty. She’s great.”





Betty’s mother and father; two sisters, Mavia Grafstrom and Inez Carson and her husband “Por” precede her. Mom leaves her sister Virginia Fleming; sons, Will (Janice), Charles (Nancy), Perry (Heather) and Armond; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren all who were her blossoms in spring.





The family wishes to thank the staff at St Pat’s and especially the staff and nurses at Village Health Care Facility. You are part of the family.





The family suggests memorials be made to the St Francis Altar Society or the American Cancer Society.





Visitation will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, January. 27, at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January. 28, at St Francis Xavier Church, 420 Pine St., Missoula.






Read Betty Deschamps's Obituary and Guestbook.