Elizabeth "Betty" Kusler

Elizabeth "Betty" Kusler
1918 - 2016
Elizabeth "Betty" Kusler, 97, of Meridian died on May 2, 2016, at her home. Betty was born to John and Lydia Kessler on November 15, 1918, in Beulah, North Dakota, in her grandmother's sod house. She was educated in Beulah and later taught in the Beulah area for seven years. She attended college at Wartburg Lutheran College in Waverly, Iowa; Dickinson Teachers College in Dickinson, North Dakota; University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho; College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho; Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho and Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.
On December 26, 1941 she married Ace Kusler, who preceded her in death on January 21, 1982. Ace and Betty came to Meridian, Idaho, in September 1945 and bought Milk Route #13 from Challenge Creamery, a prosperous industry in Meridian. Betty worked at McFadden's Market as a clerk until she began teaching second grade in September 1946; she retired in 1977. During those years she was active in the Meridian District Education Association, Idaho Education, National Education, Idaho Consortium, and the Meridian P.T.A. She received the Mason Award for Appreciation for Service by Teachers in 1967. She was honored as Teacher of the Year for the Meridian School District in 1976 and again in 1977, and in 1986 she was given the Locust Grove Grange Woman of the Year Award.
For several years she and Ace danced with Boots and Bows Square Dancers and Swing and Sway Round Dancers of Nampa. She was active in the blood drawings in Meridian for 18 years, receiving the state award in 1987. She was a member of Meridian United Methodist Church and the Circle Five, a Charter Member of Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers Sorority since 1960, and was given the Silver Sister Award. Betty was in P.E.O. Chapter AD since 1972; was a 50 year member of the Royal Neighbors of America, and in 1985 she organized a social Retired Teachers Group, called L.O.T. (Little Old Teachers).
On April 16, 1990, she married Harold McBride of Williston, North Dakota. Harold preceded her in death on November 15, 1995. She enjoyed sharing the beauties of God's world as she traveled to each continent (64 countries), including a safari to Kenya, Africa. She made friends wherever she traveled, keeping in touch with many of them. Betty enjoyed giving travelogues to various organizations in the Meridian area. She also did volunteer work at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors desk. She was passionately involved in establishing the Pine Street School Museum as she had taught 10 years in that small school. She won the 2012 Mayor's Legacy Award. The legacy of the Pine Street School Museum is carried on by the Historic Society.
In 2014, Betty moved to Touchmark's Meadow Lake Village where she made many new dear friends. She enjoyed writing and wrote over 400 articles for the Valley News.
Betty is survived by her nieces: Joan Fitzgerald; Cindi Swanson and her husband, Jim, and her children Shane Reiser and Tiffany Gonzalez; Debra Fitzgerald; Faith Fitzgerald-Michaelson and her husband, Jim, and her son Bridger Williamson; Faye Harrison and her husband, David, and their children Isabel and Evan; Johnelle Kusler; Milda Hedelom; and nephew Jim Kusler. She was preceded in death by her sisters: Bertha Orth and Emma Fitzgerald.
A viewing will be held on Friday, May 6th, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Accent Funeral Home, 1303 N. Main St. in Meridian. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 7th at Meridian United Methodist Church, 240 E. Idaho Ave. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 9th at Meridian Cemetery, 895 E. Franklin Rd. Memorials may be made in Betty's name to the Friends of Pine Street School C/O West Ada School District, 1303 E. Central Dr. Meridian, ID 83642. Remembrances may be left for the family at www.AccentFuneral.com. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home.