Betty Wensky

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(March 19, 1940 – Nov. 29, 2011)

Betty Lee Wensky, 71, died Nov. 29, 2011 at Billings Clinic Hospital after a short, but courageous battle with cancer.

Betty was born March 19, 1940 to Asa Lee and Mary Alice Johnston at the Lovell Hospital, coming into the world weighing only 3 pounds. The family moved from Ralston to the Big Horn/Park County line when Betty was age 4 and her sister, Gladys, was age 1. The farm was where they made their home and grew up. She graduated in 1958 from Powell High School, and graduated from Northwest Community College in 1960. She also attended the University of Wyoming, where she studied accounting.

After returning home, she worked at the Skyline Café for several years. Betty then went to work for L.L. Smith Trucking as a dispatch operator and did office and bookkeeping work. She was the bookkeeper for the family machine shop, Polecat Manufacturing, until they retired. She also really enjoyed her job at the Rocky Mountain Manor, socializing with her friends there.

When Betty was in her late 20s, she played softball for a team sponsored by Dick’s Well Service called the Dick’s Derrick Dames. Betty was the pitcher because she could throw strikes. The team lost most of the games, but they had a lot of laughs and ended up winning the sportsman’s trophy.

She then met the love of her life, Ralph, on a blind date. They were married March 23, 1972 in Boulder Creek, Calif. Betty became a homemaker and mother. The couple was blessed with two children, Ralph Carl, Jr., and Carla Lee.

Building their house was a family affair. Hauling timbers from Rattlesnake Mountain, running their hand-built sawmill, Betty and Ralph built their dream house and involved the entire family. Anyone who could hold a hammer or carry a board helped out.

Betty’s home was her castle. Her yard, garden and flower gardens were always beautiful and she grew enough to share with family and friends.

Betty always made sure everyone had plenty to eat and the coffee pot was always on at the Wenskys’. She loved being a mother and took pride in everything she did. She loved to paint, and especially enjoyed her Monday afternoon painting group. Painting Christmas cards for her friends and family was something she looked forward to every year. Betty loved music, playing the saxophone and the organ.

Betty is survived by her beloved husband Ralph; son Ralph Jr. and his wife Shawna; daughter Carla and Ben Horton; grandchildren Jordan and Carlee; her sister Gladys McNeil; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bob and Ann Wensky, Frank and Murm Wensky, Charlene and Robert Goodwill; nephew Shawn; nieces Cindy, Sandy, Patti, Robbie as well as many great nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; mother-in-law and father-in-law Flossie and Tom Dowty; nephew Justin McNeil; great niece Ashley Hernandez; great nephew Josh McNeil; great nephew Tylor Burke; and her childhood and lifelong friend Bonnie Jansson, who recently passed away.

Services will be held at First Southern Baptist Church in Powell on Friday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Pastor Mike Walsh is officiating. Interment will follow at Deaver Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to the Betty Wensky Memorial Fund at Big Horn Federal.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be sent to www.thompsonfuneral.net.

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