ADAMS, Betty Joan

Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory - Lake Havasu City, AZ >> Betty Joan Adams, 86, Winchester, ID << >> August 17, 1924 - August 5, 2011 << Betty Joan Adams passed away August 5, 2011, at Lake Havasu Regional Health Center in Lake Havasu City AZ where she had been residing with her daughter, Euellene (Scotty) Deeney. The eldest of 3 sisters her nurturing spirit and ready smile endeared her to everyone, family and friends alike. Betty was born in Ft Scott, KS to Anna J. Musgrave and Ray Sluder. During World War II Betty and her mother worked for Boeing in Wichita, KS building B29 bombers for the war effort. In the 40's she traded in her tool belt for a husband and three children. She moved to Idaho in the early 60's to be near her sister and brother-in-law Floyd & Bonnie Welborn of Winchester. While there she worked and provided care for the residents at Winchester Mid-Way Home. She met and married the love of her life Robert J. Adams in Orofino, ID on February 27, 1984. Betty came to know and love his two grown children as if they were her own. Betty and Bob shared many common interests. Bob, well known for his bull and saddle bronc riding in northwest rodeos during the 30's & 40's introduced Betty to the cowboy way of life. They both loved drawing and painting western art and he taught her to ride horses. Move over Dale Evans! For the first time in her life Betty was sporting cowgirl boots and a ten gallon hat and loving it. Bob and Betty also traveled extensively throughout the mountains and prairies of central Idaho. There was probably not a dirt or gravel road, nor fishing hole, that they had not discovered. They often stopped to pick wild blackberries, plums and other fruits which Betty baked, cooked and canned to share with friends and family. Betty enjoyed arts and crafts, creating homemade gifts and cards for every occasion. Her handmade Christmas cards are treasured keepsakes to all who received them. Betty's favorite pastime was doing crossword and word puzzles and she also loved doing jigsaw puzzles with her sister Bonnie. They spent many happy hours putting together hundreds of jigsaw puzzles. Betty survived many health problems throughout her life including polio as a child, tuberculosis in her 20's, colon cancer, fractured hip and recurring heart problems in her later life. She amazed doctors and family alike with her ability to recover from every setback no matter the odds. Betty believed everyone has a purpose in life, we believe hers was nurturing and caring for others. On August 5, 2011 after fighting so hard to overcome a stroke and congestive heart failure God decided her work here was done and called her home. Betty is leaving behind many loved ones, her daughters Euellene (Scotty) Deeney of Lake Havasu AZ, Linda Jo Adams of Estes Park CO; stepchildren Joanne Wilsey of Kennewick WA and Lyle Adams of Clarkston, WA; her grandchildren Robin Lusardi of Escondido CA, Vince Lusardi of Valley Center CA, Keith Deeney of Keizer, OR and David Deeney of Pasco, WA; her sisters and their families Bonnie & Floyd Welborn of Winchester, Idaho and Barbara Harrison of Wichita, KS. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Robert J Adams, her parents Anna J Rich and Ray Sluder, a brother Robert Ray Sluder, her son Sydney Ray Campbell, a baby daughter Stacey Lee Fine and a step-grandson Michael Deeney. Betty will be interred at Escondido, CA along with her husband Bob, son Sydney, and daughter Stacy Lee. Condolences may be sent in care of: Bonnie & Floyd Welborn, P.O. Box 278, Winchester,ID 83555. We will all miss her kind and generous spirit, love of life, zany sense of humor, and most of all her unconditional love. How lonely we shall be, what can we do, you without us, us without you.