Betty J. Marthaller

HAMILTON - Betty J. Marthaller, 70, of Hamilton passed away in her home on April 17, 2019 with her daughters by her side after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Betty was born in Anaconda, Mt. in 1948 to Casper and Theresa Marthaller.

At the age of 17 she married Robert Peterson and together they had two daughters, Hiedi and Tanya.  Betty worked out at Warm Springs as a Psychiatric Aide for over 18 years where she met many dear friends.

In 1991, Betty moved to the Bitterroot Valley where she found her passion helping elementary school children.  She worked as a paraprofessional in many of the Valley’s elementary schools and truly loved what she did.  At Daly Elementary School she created the Responsibility Room with much pride and dedication to create a safe and loving place for kids to learn and be successful. She retired from the Hamilton School District in 2015,  just a year before her diagnosis.

Betty enjoyed yard work, camping, crocheting, and basically any outdoor sports, but most of all Betty enjoyed being with her family and her friends.  They were her heart and she had a heart of gold.  She loved being able to help people.  Betty would be there for you day or night regardless of the circumstances.  Through her time working at Warm Springs and the Hamilton School District she met many magnificent people who remained a huge part of her life and were one­of-a-kind friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved Dave, whom was her one true love in life; her mother and father; and her siblings, Viola Linghor, Kenny Marthaller, Natalie Peterson, Adeline Nadeau, Alice Hill and Georgia Blotsky.

Survivors include her daughters and their spouses, Hiedi and Troy Hewitt of Corvallis and Tanya and Bill Kenworthy of Helena; her grandchildren, Jessica (Jason) Cieslinski of Hamilton, Troy Hewitt Jr. of North Dakota, Tatiana (Andrew) Jenkins of Missoula, Markell Butler of Virginia and Deshawn Butler of Georgia; her great-grandgirls, Kadence, Kaylee and Kenzee; her brother, Richard (Linda) Marthaller of Anaconda; and her sister, Dorothy Weber of Belgrade. Other survivors include her closest and dearest friends, Sally, Sue, Vickie and Stella and many nephews and nieces.

A Celebration of Life with be held at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 4 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Daly Elementary via The Friends of the Hamilton Schools Foundation ' s website.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.  

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