BETTY PECK, Obituary

HAVRE/BIG SANDY Betty Peck, 73, of Havre died in the early morning of Mother's Day, May 12, after an eight-year battle with lung cancer.

Her prayer vigil will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Havre at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and her funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at St. Jude's on Thursday. A

private family committal in the Big Sandy Cemetery will take place Friday.

Betty was born to Mae and Will Collins on the family's homestead south of Big Sandy on Feb. 14, 1929. She attended school in Big Sandy and graduated valedictorian of her high school class.

Betty received her teaching credentials at Northern Montana College and married Bill Darlington in 1950. They were later divorced. She taught school in Eagleton and Haystack Butte, two rural elementary schools south of Big Sandy.

Betty married Ray Peck and moved to Havre in 1975. She was a leader in state and local Democratic Party activities. She served many years as a Democratic precinct woman in Hill County and was elected as a delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention, along with granddaughter Jenny Kaleczyc of Helena. In 1998 Betty was honored by the Democratic National Committee as a winner of the Lawrence P. O'Brien award. She was active in the St. Jude parish and many other community organizations during her 27 years of life in Havre. Betty served on the staff of the Havre-Hill County Library for many years, where she made many friends who shared her love and appreciation of literature and education. Betty was devoted to her family and to creating a more compassionate, educated and just society. She was greatly admired and respected by those who knew her and beloved by her family.

She is survived by her husband, Ray, and their children, Holly and Stan Kaleczyc of Helena, Carley and Alex Tomaskie of Havre, Darla and Doug Kaercher of Havre, Kelly and Lisa Darlington of Helena, Carla Johnson of Havre, Pep and Wally Jewell of Helena, Pete and Sheryl Peck of Bozeman; 21 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Verla Pursley; brother, Bob Collins; her lifetime friend Monie Brownson and children Colleen, Scott, and Kim Brady.

The family suggests memorial to St. Jude's Building Fund, Box 407, Havre MT 59501 or The Montana Democratic Party, Box 802, Helena, MT 59624.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.