Betty Hagen

1932 - 2025

In the early morning hours of August 31, 2025, Betty J. Hagen, 92, passed away peacefully after a long and full life.

Betty was born in Seattle, Washington, to Maxwell and Marie Marshall on October 19, 1932. She grew up in the city with her siblings, Herbert, Leatrice, Gerald, and Erlene. After high school, she began her short-lived career as a secretary in the Smith Tower, located at Pioneer Square in Downtown Seattle. A chance trip to Lindsay, Montana, with her girlfriend introduced her to Justus "Joe" Hagen, who quickly became the love of her life. They married on December 6, 1952, and Betty traded the city lights for small-town Montana, where they raised their four children and built a life filled with love and community.

Betty quickly made friends in Lindsay and Glendive, embracing the country life. She volunteered for many years at the Attic, wrote the Sons of Norway newsletter, and helped compile the Our Times Our Lives history book. She enjoyed genealogy, Mariners baseball, bowling with Joe and her girlfriends, and even coaching youth leagues.

More than her many talents, Betty will be remembered for her giving spirit. She took care of her family in countless ways-making lunches, helping with bookkeeping, babysitting grandkids on "Grandma Betty Days," and showering her children and grandchildren with love. She especially cherished babies, finding joy in every cuddle. With Betty, even the slightest mention of a need didn't go unnoticed; she made it her mission to find exactly what would help.

She had a quirky charm that made her truly one-of-a-kind-from the little things that brought her joy to the way she decorated her yard with rubber snakes, fake bugs, and even an old exercise bike filled with flowers. Her dry sense of humor and the way she would suddenly blurt out whatever was on her mind often made you pause and think, wait a second, did she really just say that? Betty also loved her time as a Red Hatter, gathering with her girlfriends in their red hats and purple clothes, sharing laughter, friendship, and fun conversations that filled her with joy.

Betty is survived by her children: Janet, Wes (Jojo), Darren (Angie), and Jodi (Todd); her grandchildren Jessi (Rob), Trevor, Paige (Ryan), and Cruz; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Justus "Joe" Hagen; her siblings; and her grandchildren, Todd and Justice Hagen.

Betty lived a life filled with humor, resilience, and love. Her laughter, stories, and devotion to family will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Memorial Services will be at 2:00 PM on Friday, September 5, 2025 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.