Betty Wise

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Betty Margaret Winters Pearce Wise, a long-time Glenns Ferry resident, passed away at her home on Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

Betty was born Oct. 20, 1928, in Gooding, Idaho, to Jesse and Blanche Winters. She spent her early childhood in King Hill, Idaho, and then moved to Glenns Ferry.

She was outgoing, athletic, a good student, and loved to dance.

She went to Idaho State University for one year before becoming employed by Idaho Power Company as a bookkeeper.

She married Darold Pearce in 1951 and had two children. They lived in Glenns Ferry, then moved to The Dalles, Ore., Portland, and then Seattle. They divorced in 1963 and Betty and her children returned to Glenns Ferry.

She later married Floyd Wise Jr. ("Butch"), and they remained in Glenns Ferry.

Betty was a sympathetic ear for her teenage children's friends, and she claims to have made hundreds of hamburgers for them all through the years. Her home was a place where people liked to be.

She was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for most of her life, and was Girl of the Year several times.

She served on the Glenns Ferry Library Board for nearly fifty years, and was an avid reader.

She moved to Jerome, Idaho, in 2005 to be closer to her daughter.

All who knew Betty found her to be fun-loving and kindhearted. She described herself as "loud-mouthed and stubborn," but it only added to her charm. She will be sorely missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Blanche Winters, her husband, Butch Wise, her brother, Clyde Winters, and most of her peers.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Terry Schmidt of Jerome, and their children, and a son and daughter-in-law, Donn and Verlene Wise, and their son.

At Betty's request, there will be no funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to someone who is truly in need of food, shelter, or medical attention. (Mom was always SO practical.)