Bettie Pilote

1946 - 2025

Bettie Pilote

October 3, 1946 - January 3, 2025

Caldwell, Idaho - Bettie Bushnell Pilote, 78, passed away unexpectedly on Jan 3, 2025 in Caldwell, Idaho.

Services will be held at 10:00am Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the United Methodist Church in Caldwell, with a reception to follow. Internment will be at the Wilder Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. www.dakanfuneralchapel.com (208) 459-3629.

Bettie was born October 3, 1946, in Caldwell, Idaho to Robert and Marjorie Bushnell. She attended school near their home in Wilder, Idaho until her sophomore year, and then transferred to graduate from Caldwell High School, class of 1964.

Bettie attended the University of Idaho and earned a degree in Education in 1968. She was a recipient of a Joseph Kennedy Scholarship, a loyal Vandal, and treasured her lifelong friendships with her Pi Beta Phi Sorority sisters.

Bettie married John Pilote on June 29, 1968, in Caldwell, Idaho. Their life together began with a move to Fort Carson, Colorado, for John's service in the Army. When he was deployed to Vietnam, Bettie returned to Idaho, where she taught special education at Huston School as well as 4th grade in the Wilder School District.

After John returned, they were stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where they welcomed their first son, John Robert, in 1970. After several more assignments, the family returned to Caldwell in 1972, and their second son, Joshua, was born in 1975. Although they later divorced, they remained close friends, and Bettie continued to maintain a loving relationship with John's family.

Bettie had a variety of work experiences. In addition to teaching, she worked with her family at the Sundowner Motel and the Saratoga Restaurant. Her work in sales at Circle J Trailers led to an active involvement with the National Finals Rodeo and an appointment to the Miss Rodeo America board. She was active in the community and served on Caldwell's Planning and Zoning Commission and Salvation Army's board of directors.

Bettie was involved in several different business ventures, including construction and development, property management, and her popular restaurant, "The Garden" at Caldwell's Trolley Square. She continued to work for her family, and assumed the role of President for Sundowner Inc. in 1997.

Bettie had many hobbies and interests. She was an avid bridge player and played regularly with a club for many decades. She loved to cook and entertain and she always made holidays special. Her annual Christmas party was a tradition to generations of families and friends.

Bettie had a passion for travel and had many adventures with her friends and family, particularly her cherished cousins. Although she explored much of the world, she deeply cherished the life she built in Idaho. She enjoyed time with her friends, a trip to the cabin, and the flowers in her yard. Bettie never took for granted the opportunity to stop and enjoy a sunrise, sunset, or a beautiful moon, wherever she was.

Her greatest interest, however, was her family. Bettie loved and was very proud of them. She often told others that her greatest accomplishment in life was that she had raised two fine men. She adored her sons, along with her two grandsons, Bryce and Lucas, and her 'daughter' Terry. She was an active part of their lives and rarely missed a ballgame, school program, or other important life event.

Her kindness extended beyond her family and to anyone she knew. She was selfless and rarely put herself before others. She was fiercely loyal, and willing to help anyone she believed in. She was a mentor, a confidant, and a great friend to many.

She was an amazing woman and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents, Robert A. Bushnell and Marjorie Karn Bushnell. She is survived by her two sons Robert (Terry) Pilote, and Joshua Pilote, grandsons Bryce (Jessica) Hughes, and Lucas Pilote (Alina Tovar,) brother Robert Bushnell Jr., nieces and nephews Natalie (William) Hunter, Tiffany and Bo Bushnell, and grandniece Esme Hunter.

For memorials, please consider a donation to the Bushnell Scholarship fund at The College of Idaho, The Free Wheelchair Mission, or St. Jude's Research Hospital.