MONTGOMERY, Betty Nell

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Thursday, May 07, 2015 Betty Nell Montgomery, 87, a resident of Prescott for 51 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at the Granite Gate Senior Living Facility in Prescott. Mrs. Montgomery was born on May 12, 1927, in Glasgow, Montana. Betty was raised in a family consisting of eight children on a wheat and dairy farm outside of Glasgow of which her parents homesteaded in the early years of the 1900s. Her father, Iver, had immigrated from Norway in 1902. Betty always held dear her vast and enormous pride in her Norwegian and farming heritage. Betty married quite young on Dec. 10, 1949, to Elmer R. Culver in Glasgow and raised two boys with him while living first in Montana, moving to Phoenix, and then finally settling in Prescott. Together, they opened Culver's TV in 1967, where she helped out in the business as often as she could. However, her heart was more invested in wanting to raise her two sons as a "stay at home" mom. During the daytime when the boys were attending school, Betty occupied her time with many hours of volunteer work in places such as the hospital, her beloved church and the Prescott elementary school system. Her favorite and most passionate time spent, was being a member of the "Pink Ladies" in the 1970s, which assisted the hospital in the care of the elderly patients-particularly the women-shampooing and setting their hair. Betty was also an extremely talented artist, and completed many exceptional paintings in oil, as well as sculptures in clay, which later became bronzed. Primarily, her subject matter focused on the Native American Indians, for whom she had always respected and greatly admired. Betty and Elmer eventually divorced, and in 1988, she met and later married, John Merten Montgomery; a man who she very deeply loved and forever regarded as her "Soul Mate." Betty Montgomery will best be remembered by her family, friends and acquaintances as a petite little woman that was blessed with an immense heart-filled with the utmost virtues of both selfless generosity and pure compassion. Mrs. Montgomery is preceded by her husband, John Montgomery; and youngest son, Robert B. Culver. Betty is survived by her eldest son Richard Culver (Patricia) of Prescott; a younger brother, Ivar L. Harebo Jr. of Camp Verde; two grandsons, Ian Culver, (Cassie) of Prescott and Richie Culver (Kim) of Ft. Rucker, Alabama; a granddaughter, Richelle, of Pittsburg, Kansas; and just recently, a great-granddaughter, Kaylen Marie Culver of Ft. Rucker, Alabama. The family wishes to sincerely thank the entire staff at Granite Gate Senior Living for their loving care during Betty's residence there, and much heart-felt gratitude to the great people at "Hospice Family Care" who provided Betty with her medical needs and comfort during the final months of her life. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015 at the American Lutheran Church, 1085 Scott Drive, Prescott. A luncheon will follow, with committal service at 1 p.m. at Mt. View Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Arizona Ruffner-Wakelin Funeral Home. You are invited to log onto ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Betty's guestbook, view a tribute to her and share a memory with the family. Information provided by survivors.