- Date Of Birth: February 4, 1922
- Date Of Death: February 1, 2013
- State: Idaho
Betty Ellen (Holbach) Summers, 90, died February 1, 2013, of natural causes at the Life Care Center in Ammon Idaho.
She was the first of 11 children born to William and Vera Holbach, born February 4, 1922 in Chamberlain, South Dakota. Being the oldest, she raised her younger brothers and sisters like a mom and even fought with her mom if she dared to discipline “her” kids. Her family enjoyed the stories of their efforts to avoid being put to work around the homestead by sneaking off across the creek after breakfast. She was the first person in her family to attend high school and moved to Washington D.C. after graduation and was there when WWII broke out. She met Al Settle while in a Tuberculosis Asylum and married him while she recovered. He later died of TB and she recovered and went back to work. While in D.C. she met the love of her life, a handsome sailor, L.B. Summers, and they got married September 2, 1950.
Bill and Betty transferred to Hawaii in the Navy and in March of 1963 they adopted 2 boys Cas and Gene born 10 days apart. The next March they added daughter Shawn to complete the family and Betty had found her true joy in life, being a mom. In 1967, they transferred to Orlando Florida for Bill’s twilight tour and he retired to Fern Park to raise their family. Betty got a job as the school secretary at English Estates Elementary School where she worked for 26 years while she raised her kids.
Bill and Betty later divorced and Betty raised the kids sending Cas to college, Gene to the Navy, and Shawn to Georgia. Betty continued to live in her house in Fern Park with Cas and Debbie to keep an eye on her until age caught up in 2007 and she moved into assisted living. In 2009 she moved to Ammon, Idaho to live with Gene’s family until age once again forced her into a nursing home.
Betty loved her children, loved being a mom, and loved her job being a mom to a whole elementary school. She had many teacher friends and would go out every week after retirement to have breakfast or lunch just to keep in touch.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents William and Vera, her sister Wilma, L.B. Summers, and Al Settle. She is survived by her 9 brothers and sisters, her children Cas (Debbie) Summers of Lake Mary, Florida, Gene (Kim) Summers of Ammon, Idaho, and Shawn Berryman of Royston, Georgia, 2 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and 1 great-granddaughter.
