Betty May Johnston

1926 - 2021

Betty May Johnston
July 8, 1926 - November 9, 2021
Parma, Idaho - Betty May Pierce Johnston left this earth November 9th, 2021, after 95 feisty years of life.
She was born July 8th, 1926, on The Island at Parma, Idaho, with family friend Old Doc Mitchell attending. She was the second of four children born to Reta Sayre and J. Marshall Pierce. Betty grew up there on the Boise River out beyond Hexon Road, attending the Island School, then Parma junior and high schools, graduating from PHS with the class of 1944. R.H. Young, who owned a portion of The Island and for whom her father J. Marshall worked, offered to send any or all of the Pierce kids to college. Betty pursued and received an Associates Degree in accounting from Links School of Business in Boise, which she used to full advantage in many administrative positions throughout her life.
Betty married Don Johnston January 12th, 1946, after he finished his military stint. Bob and Betty Lisle Hopkins were not yet married, but they stood up together with Don and Betty, and later the Johnstons were attendants at the Hopkins' marriage. They remained lifelong friends. The Johnstons' first home was in the Ten Davis community (east of Parma, not quite to Notus). Their daughter Connie (now Luechtefeld) was born in 1947 and son Tom was born in 1950.
In 1957 Don and Betty bought their own 40-acre farm (where Tom & Jane now live).
In 1976, Don & Betty built their forever home on Lon Davis Road, where they enjoyed some of the best years of their lives until Don's death in 2004, ending a busy, productive, and happy 59-year marriage. During an ocean cruise with good friend Ione Shelp in 2006, Betty met Reuben Kautz of Weiser. A friendship with Reuben sprang up that filled a void left by Don's passing, and Betty married Reuben in February 2007, when she was 80 years old, and they enjoyed a full decade+ of card playing, mutual comfort, and companionship.
All through the years Betty worked outside the home. She worked in a number of different places throughout her career as a bookkeeper. Her different employment opportunities put her in a position to make friends and build relationships that she maintained and cherished throughout her life. Betty was also a tremendous joiner of service organizations. She served various roles within the Ten Davis Community and also the Kirkpatrick Memorial Community Church. She threw herself wholeheartedly into whatever group she chose.
Betty's great spirit and zest for life were infectious to all who were blessed to spend time with her. Her life was full of many passions including her family. She had a large extended family including all who have passed on; as well as her son, daughter, grandchildren, great-grands, cousins, nieces, nephews and husband who survive her.
Betty's competitive nature fueled many of her hobbies including her card playing which she enjoyed for many years. She flourished in a crowd, was an opinionated leader, a snappy dresser, thrived on an audience, was bold in her approach and opinions, and often served as a self-appointed director of whatever activity was at hand. She was classy till the end.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 4th, at Kirkpatrick Memorial Community Church in Parma (302 N 3rd St), followed by a reception. The family will be honored by your presence. Family suggests memorials to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church or a charity of your choice in memory of Betty.