Elizabeth Mardell Betts Obituary (2023)

Elizabeth Mardell Betts, known affectionately as Mardell, peacefully departed from this world on November 18, 2023, at the age of 90, in Nampa, Idaho. She was born on June 27, 1933, in Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho, to the late Dayle Robert Parsons and Marguerite Ora Kirtley. Mardell was the loving mother of Arma Jo (Randy J) Zimmerman, Penny Suzanne (Daniel Mark) Haney, and Tad Maurice Montgomery. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Stacey Zimmerman (William) Smekofske, Kristin Zimmerman, Cynthia Black, Nichole Montgomery, Quinn (Lorriene) Montgomery, Livi Montgomery, and Rita Montgomery, as well as her seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by her beloved great-nephew, Trenton Douglas Rostedt, who resides in Texas. Mardell's life was defined by her adventurous spirit and her unwavering commitment to her family. She fearlessly embraced new experiences and wholeheartedly devoted herself to her loved ones. Raised on the family cattle ranch in Mackay, Idaho, she developed a deep passion for horseback riding and became an expert horsewoman. As a young child, she accompanied her parents to "grange" dances in the Lost River Valley, where her father played in the band. Mardell would often fall asleep on a table or in a chair, waking up when the dance was over. In March of 1951, Mardell married Maurice Earl Montgomery and graduated from Mackay High School shortly after. Together, they welcomed their two daughters, Arma Jo and Penny Suzanne, and tragically lost their son, Timothy Dayle, shortly after his birth in 1954. In 1957, Mardell and Maurice adopted their son, Tad Maurice. Mardell later married Jack Arthur Bishop Sr. in 1963, and they were married for thirty-five years. Although they divorced in 1992, Mardell and Jack Jr. remained friends until his passing in 2020. Mardell then moved to St. George, Utah, where she met her eternal companion, Alden Laney Betts. She was embraced and loved by Alden's children, Bonnie, Joanne, Dan, Beverly, and Clif. After Alden's passing in 2009, Mardell resided with her oldest daughter and her family until her own passing. Throughout her life, Mardell embarked on numerous travels, never staying in one place for more than a school year until 1963. She had a passion for square-dancing and jitterbug, and she would often drive a ski boat, towing her children around Lake Mojave. Mardell's adventurous spirit also led her to win trophies in jeep racing on the Dumont Dunes near Las Vegas. She had a talent for hunting white-tail deer and antelope in the mountains of Nevada and enjoyed fishing in both clearwater and deep sea. For seventeen years, Mardell worked as an accounts receivable clerk at Southwest Gas Company before retiring to Knarraville, Utah, in 1988. Mardell was a lifelong member of the Eastern Star and made lasting friendships within the organization. She also had a passion for crafting, particularly crocheting and creating projects with plastic canvas. Mardell honed her skills in the art of Brazilian Embroidery and produced many beautiful pictures. Mardell's funeral services were performed graveside on November 20, 2023, at Mt. McCaleb Cemetery in Mackay, Idaho, where she was laid to rest near her parents, Alden, and Timothy. A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor in 2024. The compassionate professionals at Zeyer Funeral Chapel in Nampa, Idaho, assisted the family with the arrangements during this difficult time. Mardell will forever be remembered for her adventurous spirit, her love for her family, and her kind-hearted nature. Her legacy will continue to live on through the cherished memories she leaves behind.