Betty Jeanne Marie Wolfe

Betty Jeanne Wolfe, mother of 5, grandmother of 10, great grandmother of 7, peacefully greeted Jesus in her home January 7, 2022, at the age of 88. Betty Jeanne was born the fourth of nine children on April 5, 1933, to Helen Cornelia (White) Seidlitz and Elle Wesley Seidlitz.

 Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Wolfe, and her siblings Joseph,

Richard, Jack, and Michelle Seidlitz. Betty is survived by siblings Virginia Dyrud, Adella Wagner, Raymond (Sharon) Seidlitz, and Patricia Bruce; sister-in-law, Pat Seidlitz; and her children, Glenn (Lori) Wolfe of Hamilton, Kendra (David) Bruget of Billings, David (Jewel) Wolfe of Lafayette, CO, Helen (Kevin) Deitz of Portland, OR, and JoAnne Rohrback of Great Falls.  Betty was a proud grandparent of Jeff (Deana) Wolfe, Doug (Julie) Wolfe, Matt (Sarah) Wolfe, Brianne (Brett Bousquet), Jonathan (Nell) Wolfe, Andrew (Brianna) Wolfe, Hannah (Nate) Schweitzer, Marissa Deitz, Jared (Markie) Rohrback, and Mitchell (Hana) Rohrback.  Betty’s adored great grandchildren, Gwen and Josie Wolfe, Chance and Violet Rohrback, Annabelle and Linley Wolfe, and Roger Wolfe. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

 Burial location will be next to her husband in the Erickson Cemetery, 14 miles south of Chester, overlooking the land that Kenny and BJ farmed. Memorial services are planned for 10 am on March 19, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chester.

 Betty was raised with her 8 siblings on the Seidlitz farm 8 miles east of Chester. She went to school in Chester, except for her freshman year of high school, which was spent at the St. Thomas boarding school in Great Falls. After graduating from high school in 1950, she obtained

a Bachelors’ Degree in Secondary Education at the College of Great Falls in 1954.

 Betty Jeanne married Kenny Wolfe in 1954. They lived on the family farm 12 miles south of Chester until 1991, when Kenny and BJ moved into their home in Chester. Betty Jeanne commented that it took a while for her to become adjusted to the train whistles, and to

seeing neighbors when she glanced out her windows.

 Learning and education were a hallmark of Betty Jeanne’s life. She was valedictorian of her high school class, and she wanted her own children to study and make the most of their education. They were expected to bring home books for two school subjects every day and

study from them, whether they actually had homework or not. It was also stressed that her children be respectful to their teachers. If a child misbehaved at school and was required to write something 100 times for the teacher, then that child would also have to write it 100 times at home for Betty Jeanne. It was important to her that her kids were proficient readers, so they always had a book with them during trips, and often read aloud to her when she cooked or did dishes.  She also enjoyed being a dedicated reading buddy at the elementary school after her own kids were out of school. Kenny and Betty Jeanne worked to save money so that each of their children could go to college. Betty Jeanne herself continued learning throughout her life by reading biographies, participating in book clubs (including Great Books), was at one time the president of the Liberty County Arts Council, and eagerly went on “field trips” with family members or with friends in the Red Hat Society. She especially enjoyed history of all kinds, she loved traveling to different ghost towns with the Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society, and was known to be a great source for stories and anecdotes. 

 Music was also an important aspect of her life. Band was her favorite part of high school. She played saxophone and also sang in the high school choir. Because music brought her such joy, her children were expected to play piano and a band instrument (Glenn, Kendra, Dave, and Helen played saxophone; JoAnne played trumpet) and each of them also participated in choir at some point during their high school and college careers. Betty Jeanne always enjoyed music, whether it was live concerts and musicals, or recordings she had at home.

 Attending church was central in Betty Jeanne’s life. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chester. During her lifetime she sang in the choir, was active in the Altar Society, taught CCD classes, and organized meals for funerals and other activities for 30 years. She was an example of Christ’s teaching in Mark 9:35: “And He (Jesus) said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

 This attitude was not only shown in her church. BJ also showed this attitude to her family and friends in the ways that she made herself available to help others. She cared for her widowed father. She cared, not only for her own five children, but also nieces and nephews. She especially made herself available to help in caring for her grandchildren, even if it meant spending weeks at a time hundreds of miles away from home. Betty Jeanne seemed to be happiest when she could be surrounded by her family. She loved to hear them talk and joke with each other as she prepared a hearty meal or served them a snack of her delicious cookies.

 In all these important parts of Betty Jeanne’s life, her family benefitted and learned from her actions and examples. Her children and grandchildren have themselves pursued education and learning. They have been involved in music and/or other activities that give them joy. They have found ways to serve others in their church or community. And her children will also keep the memory of her “Yoo Hoo” echoing throughout the farmyard to call us to the house.

  Memorials for Betty may be sent to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or Liberty Medical Center.