Betty Osorio

MISSOULA – Betty Osorio, 88, of Missoula and a longtime resident of Kalispell, passed away at her home in Missoula on Sunday, March 17, 2013, in true Irish spirit on St. Patrick's Day.

She was born on July 27, 1924, in Crosby, N.D., a daughter of Bernard and Pearl Feeney. Betty helped to raise her five brothers and sisters during the great depression and graduated from Crosby High School in 1944. She went on to nursing school and received a nursing degree from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Minot, N.D., in 1947.

Betty enlisted as a cadet in the Army Nursing Corps, serving as a captain, but the war ended before she could serve. She met Herbert Osorio at a Christmas Party in Anchorage, Alaska, and the couple married June 15, 1948.

She was proud of her nursing career and the position of supervisor and head nurse of the obstetrics department at Kalispell General Hospital in Kalispell for 10 years. She delivered many babies and signed many birth certificates while working at the hospital. Betty was a great storyteller and, as are all so gifted, she really and truly believed there were wandering ghosts and fairies dancing in the glens. No matter your mood or even your desire, Betty would draw you in to tell your own stories too and would share her joy of family with everyone. Betty spent her life taking care of and serving others. She and her husband traveled extensively and toured all 50 states during her lifetime. Family was everything to Betty and she enjoyed cooking, canning and having her summers filled with company at their home in Kalispell.

Betty was generous and loving and is survived by her husband, Herbert Osorio, retired command sergeant major, of Missoula; four children, Linda (Don) St. Peter of Missoula, John (Angel) Osorio of Cherry Hill, N.J., Debra (Jim) Thorson of Bakersfield, Calif., and Karlene (Francis) Kohr of Kalispell; 10 grandchildren, Jonathan, Joseph, Jacqueline, Melissa, Meagan, Matthew, Julie, Kristina, Andrea and Laura; six great-grandchildren; sister, Jane Lunas of Lake Park, Calif.; and brothers, Bill and Frank Feeney. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Morlys Purdy and Margaret Feeney; brothers, Bernard, Tom, and Jimmy Feeney; and grandson, Jimmy Thorson.

Rosary vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Garden City Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 21, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with the Rev. Gary Reller and the Rev. George Dumais as celebrants. A reception will follow in the church social hall. Burial will take place at the Western Montana Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.

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