Betty Olson

Betty Olson

Betty Olson, 71, of Havre, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. The family has requested that memorials be made to the Havre Senior Center, the American Heart Association or the charity of the donor's choice in Betty's name. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Betty was born on July 16, 1941, in Butte, to Samuel and Elsie (Faechner) Galbavy. She was raised in Box Elder. Following her school years, she married Gary Olson, and the couple's union was blessed with three children. Betty worked for several years as a bank teller before putting her nursing license into use. When she passed away, she was working with the North Central Senior Center in Havre in a secretarial position.

Betty was a gregarious, outgoing, fun-loving woman with a quirky sense of humor. She enjoyed her arts and crafts, making her beaded Christmas bulbs. She also enjoyed putting puzzles together, collecting Precious Moments figurines and reading Harlequin books. She also enjoyed fishing on the bank and reading at the same time. Betty was a fabulous cook, even though she cooked many times with no real recipes. Her family especially remembers her borscht. She was a homebody, but she loved to watch her grandkids play sports. That love of sports carried over into her home life, as she enjoyed watching basketball, even on TV, and she was a devoted Atlanta Braves fan. She loved dogs and had several through the years. Even in later years when she did not have one herself, she thoroughly enjoyed watching the "granddogs." Betty, most of all, doted on her husband Gary, who was the love of her life, and her children, and she adored her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Olson; her parents, Samuel and Elsie Galbavy; and her brother, Jim Galbavy.

Betty is survived by her sons, Larry (Kathy) Olson and Art (Jody) Olson of Havre; her daughter, Bev (Darryl) Eto of Houston, Texas; her four grandchildren, all of Havre; her brothers, Sam Galbavy of Kalispell and Steve (Mona) Galbavy of Box Elder; her sister, Millie (Terry) Mauck of LaGrande, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews.