Alice Bettenhausen

Funeral Services for Alice Bettenhausen, 88, of Baker, MT will be at 10:00 a. m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at American Lutheran Church in Baker, MT with Pastor Bruce Kolasch officiating. Interment will follow in Bonnievale Cemetery at Baker. Visitation will be 2:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. on Monday, June 21st, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p. m. Alice Bettenhausen was born on November 8, 1921 to Henry and Elsie (Quinlan) Beckman in Baker, Montana, the 4th of 6 children. Her family farmed north of Baker. Following the death of two of Alice?s older brother, Cecil in 1917 and Gerald in 1924, Henry, Elsie, Ernest and Alice moved to Tacoma, Washington. Sadly, Ernest died in 1926 in Tacoma and the family moved back to the family farm in Baker, where Alice?s two younger sisters, Jean and Willa Mae, were born. Alice grew up on the family farm and attended schools in Baker, graduating from Baker High School in 1940. High School in 1940. Alice loved riding horses and spent a great deal of time riding with her friends and cousins. She and 5 close friends were caught in a blizzard after their car stalled in the winter of 1939. Alice froze both her legs and she delayed going to college for one year while she recuperated. Alice attended St. Luke?s School of Nursing in Fargo, ND with her good friend Helen (Tunby) Jenson, graduating in 1945. In the fall of 1944, she had met Roy Bettenhausen, who had just returned from Europe and World War II. Alice and Roy were married in a double ceremony with Alice?s sister Jean and Norm Stenerson on November 3, 1948. Roy and Alice moved to Roy?s hometown, Wishek, ND where Roy built and ran the Wishek Body Shop. Their only son Shane was born on March 9, 1951 in Bismarck, ND. The young family moved back to Baker in 1955 and Roy built the Baker Body Shop with his brother-in-law Norm Stenerson and Alice worked as a nurse at the hospital; she also served as the Director of Nursing at the Baker Hospital. Alice retired from nursing in the mid 1960?s, but she never gave up her profession. She spent many years caring for friends and family and served on the hospital board for many years. She and Roy enjoyed many years of traveling to visit family members in California, Washington, British Columbia, and Italy. Alice also enjoyed shopping trips with her sisters Jean and Willa Mae, and later with her daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Alice spent a great deal of time with her grandchildren and was so proud of all their accomplishments. She delighted in spoiling them and accompanying them on family vacations and many picnics to Medicine Rocks. Alice also enjoyed her coffee afternoons with her good friends Anna Mae, Helen, Sandy and Emily. Alice died on June 16, 2010. She is survived by her son Shane and his wife Carole and their children Caleb (Brittany) of Missoula, Slade and Darby, both of the family home in Baker, one sister, Willa Mae Flint of Baker, one sister-in-law, Ione Bettenhausen of Wishek, ND, and nieces and nephews. Alice?s family extends their thanks and gratitude to the present and past staff and employees of the Fallon Medical Complex for their professional and compassionate care they gave to Alice this past five plus years.


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Burial Date: June 22, 2010
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT