Individual Details
Betty Jean Spracklin
(23 Oct 1930 - 9 Feb 2013)
Jordan Tribune, 22 Feb 2013
Betty Jean Spracklin Stocker Cole, 82, of Terry, died Sunday evening in the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City after having suffered heart attack.
She was born October 23, 1930 on the family ranch 20 miles northwest of Jordan, in Garfield county, to Amos and Iva Spracklin. She spent her childhood growing up on the family ranch; attending country school in Garfield county through the eighth grade; then finishing her high school education in Jordan, graduating with the class of 1948.
While completing her high school education, Betty stayed in the Jordan Dormitory and waited tables at the local restaurant to help pay for her board and room during the week; then returned to the family ranch over the weekend to assist with family chores.
On June 3, 1948, she married Henry Stocker in Miles City, Montana. For the next eleven yeas the couple worked on various ranches in the county. Four children were born to this union. The couple divorced in 1960 in Miles City.
Betty and her children remained in Miles City where she attended Miles Community College for two years, studying bookkeeping, then working 16 hour shifts as a waitnress or cook in some of Miles City's now extinct restaurants trying to support her family. Several of these cafes included the Log Cabin, the Range Riders, the Red Rock, the Country Club, and the 600. She also woked as the cook during the local livestock auction sales, as a bartender in both the Bison and Trails Inn bars.
Betty married Delbert Cole in Glendive in 1961; he had five children of his own and they had one daughter, thus bringing together 10 children in the family.
Betty loved listening to country music from the 50s and 60s, cooking, gardening, growing flowers, oil painting, crocheting, reading and visiting with family and friends.
Survivors include three daughters: Vicki (Pat) Breen of Terry, Montana; Odella (Dennis) Freed of Forsyth, Montana; Gloria (Eugene) Spinter of Lincoln, Montana; one son, Michael (Debbie) Stocker of Salmon, Idaho; two step-daughters: Carol (Gary) Davis of Portland, Oregon and Lorie (Thomas) Merritt of New Jersey; one step-son, DJ Cole of Oregon; four sisters: Alice Bickel of Billings, Montana; Bertha Roufley of Jordan, Montana; Dorothy Tucker of Spokane, Washington and Helen Fowler of Spokane, Washington; 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Cole, her parents, Amos and Iva Spracklin, her daughter, Karla Rae Murphy, one step-daughter, Lucille Cole, one step-granddaughter, Cheryl Merritt of New Jersey, one stepson, Daniel Cole of Oregon.
Betty will be remembered for many things, especially for her home canned tomatoes and her pies and caramel rolls. She was a beacon of light that was too suddenly dimmed, yet her beautiful smile and loving heart will be remembered by all who were touched by her presence.
Burial was by cremation, with her ashes being buried with her husband and out on the family ranch where she great up.
A prayer service was held on Wednesda, Febraury 13, 2013 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. A reception followed at the Trails Inn Bar courtesy of Bob and Mitsy.
Betty Jean Spracklin Stocker Cole, 82, of Terry, died Sunday evening in the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City after having suffered heart attack.
She was born October 23, 1930 on the family ranch 20 miles northwest of Jordan, in Garfield county, to Amos and Iva Spracklin. She spent her childhood growing up on the family ranch; attending country school in Garfield county through the eighth grade; then finishing her high school education in Jordan, graduating with the class of 1948.
While completing her high school education, Betty stayed in the Jordan Dormitory and waited tables at the local restaurant to help pay for her board and room during the week; then returned to the family ranch over the weekend to assist with family chores.
On June 3, 1948, she married Henry Stocker in Miles City, Montana. For the next eleven yeas the couple worked on various ranches in the county. Four children were born to this union. The couple divorced in 1960 in Miles City.
Betty and her children remained in Miles City where she attended Miles Community College for two years, studying bookkeeping, then working 16 hour shifts as a waitnress or cook in some of Miles City's now extinct restaurants trying to support her family. Several of these cafes included the Log Cabin, the Range Riders, the Red Rock, the Country Club, and the 600. She also woked as the cook during the local livestock auction sales, as a bartender in both the Bison and Trails Inn bars.
Betty married Delbert Cole in Glendive in 1961; he had five children of his own and they had one daughter, thus bringing together 10 children in the family.
Betty loved listening to country music from the 50s and 60s, cooking, gardening, growing flowers, oil painting, crocheting, reading and visiting with family and friends.
Survivors include three daughters: Vicki (Pat) Breen of Terry, Montana; Odella (Dennis) Freed of Forsyth, Montana; Gloria (Eugene) Spinter of Lincoln, Montana; one son, Michael (Debbie) Stocker of Salmon, Idaho; two step-daughters: Carol (Gary) Davis of Portland, Oregon and Lorie (Thomas) Merritt of New Jersey; one step-son, DJ Cole of Oregon; four sisters: Alice Bickel of Billings, Montana; Bertha Roufley of Jordan, Montana; Dorothy Tucker of Spokane, Washington and Helen Fowler of Spokane, Washington; 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Cole, her parents, Amos and Iva Spracklin, her daughter, Karla Rae Murphy, one step-daughter, Lucille Cole, one step-granddaughter, Cheryl Merritt of New Jersey, one stepson, Daniel Cole of Oregon.
Betty will be remembered for many things, especially for her home canned tomatoes and her pies and caramel rolls. She was a beacon of light that was too suddenly dimmed, yet her beautiful smile and loving heart will be remembered by all who were touched by her presence.
Burial was by cremation, with her ashes being buried with her husband and out on the family ranch where she great up.
A prayer service was held on Wednesda, Febraury 13, 2013 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. A reception followed at the Trails Inn Bar courtesy of Bob and Mitsy.
Events
| Birth | 23 Oct 1930 | Jordan, Garfield, Montana |  | ||
| Marriage | 3 Jun 1948 | Miles City, Custer, Montana - Henry Francis Stocker | |||
| Marriage | 21 Mar 1961 | Glendive, Dawson, Montana - Delbert D. Cole | |||
| Death | 9 Feb 2013 | Miles City, Custer co., Montana | | ||
| Divorce | Henry Francis Stocker |
Families
| Spouse | Henry Francis Stocker |
| Child | Victoria Jean Stocker |
| Child | O'Della Rose Stocker |
| Child | Gloria Kay Stocker |
| Child | Michael Henry Stocker |
| Spouse | Delbert D. Cole (1925 - ) |
| Child | D. J. Cole |
| Child | Carol Cole |
| Child | Lori Cole |
| Child | Carla Rae Cole |
| Father | Amos Earl Spracklin (1899 - 1983) |
| Mother | Iva Myrtle Heiss (1906 - 1969) |
| Sibling | Mary Anna Spracklin (1925 - 1925) |
| Sibling | Margaret Rosalie Spracklin (1926 - 2012) |
| Sibling | Alice May Spracklin |
| Sibling | Bertha Evelyn Spracklin |
| Sibling | Dorothy Josephine Spracklin |
| Sibling | Helen Marlys Spracklin |
Endnotes
1. Obituary, Jordan Tribune, 22 Feb 2013, Betty Jean 'Spracklin' Stocker Cole.
2. Obituary, Jordan Tribune, 22 Feb 2013, Betty Jean 'Spracklin' Stocker Cole.