Betty Garrett (née Auvil) of Helena, Montana passed away peacefully the morning of December 18th, 2024.  She was 97 years old.

Betty was born on August 29th, 1927, in Philippi, West Virginia to Dallas and Goldie Auvil.  She grew up on the family farm in Belington, WV along with her 7 siblings. Betty was an excellent student and was promoted above her grade twice in school. She grew up in the depression in difficult times when feed sack dresses were in vogue and the girls were expected to work in the field and milk 15 cows before and after school.

Upon graduating high school in 1944, Betty moved to Ohio and began a career in the Civil Service.  Betty married Richard Garrett in April of 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii.   The couple had two children, Mary Lee Garrett, and Richard Claire Garrett Jr. both born in Klamath Falls, Oregon.   Betty moved with the family supporting her husband's career in the Air Force, and lived in Panama City, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Great Falls, Montana; Ankara, Turkey; and Duluth, Minnesota prior to the couple returning to Great Falls in 1974 when Richard retired.  Upon Richard's death in 1994, Betty continued to live in the Great Falls area until moving to Helena to live with her daughter, Mary, in 2007.

Betty passed away in her sleep following a gradual decline in her health over the last five years of her life.  She spent the last several years in assisted living in Helena where she received excellent care and was visited frequently by her daughter Mary.

Betty is survived by her children, Mary Garrett of Helena, MT, Richard Garrett Jr. and his wife Wendy of Snohomish, WA, her brother Ken Auvil of Belington, WV, and her grandsons Jake Garrett of Bozeman, MT; Alex Garrett of Phoenix, AZ; and Kyle Garrett of Snohomish, WA.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Garrett; her parents, Dallas and Goldie Auvil, and six of her siblings:  Virginia Isner, Denzel (Butch) Auvil, George Auvil, Mary Lucille Burdick, Dallas Auvil Jr., and Ralph Auvil.

Betty's ashes will be interned with her husband's at Fort Harrisson military cemetery in Helena, MT at a date to be determined.  The family wishes to thank her caregivers at the Beehive homes, as well as special thanks and remembrance to her brother Ken Auvil, sister-in-law Ruth Auvil, nieces Lynda Ware, Julie Hunter, and Beatrice Eveland, nephew Mark Burdick and stepson, the late Clark Garrett for all the cards, letters, and phone calls during Betty's later years.  She thoroughly enjoyed those communications and relationships.

Ken, the remaining brother, remembers Betty, Virginia, and Lucille as smart, strong, caring, generous women. Even in difficult times, they were blessed with family values that resonated with all that knew them.  Betty was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt.  She was loved and will be missed by many.

Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family.