Betty Jane (Erickson) Marshall

Betty Jane Erickson was born at the Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls, Montana on May 21st, 1925, to Carl and Jessie Erickson.  She had five brothers and sisters and was raised in Stockett and graduated from Centerville High School in 1943.  Her first formal job was as an assistant to the Great Falls Superintendent of Schools.  She married Steve Rukavina in 1943, and they began their family with the birth of Jerry in 1948, the addition of Roger in 1951, and finally Danny in 1953.  Betty and Steve divorced in 1961, and in 1962 Steve was killed in an auto accident. 

In 1962 Betty began her career in Civil Service as a secretary at Malmstrom Air Force Base.  In 1965, she married John Evans, a noncommissioned officer stationed at MAFB and a man who loved her so much that he cared for the three teenage boys as well.  In 1966 they transferred as a family to Wheelus AFB just outside of Tripoli, Libya, where they both had jobs waiting for them.  After that three-year assignment they returned to Great Falls where Betty worked for the Wing Safety Office while John spent a tour in Vietnam.  In 1972 they were both assigned to Bangkok, Thailand, where John served as Advisor to the Thai Air Force and Betty as secretary to the USAF Office of Special Investigations. After three years they returned once again to MAFB where John completed his military career and Betty worked as a secretary to the Director of Personnel. 

1977 marked their move to Spokane, Washington, where John attended college to earn his degree in Horology while Betty was employed at Fairchild AFB just west of Spokane.  When they returned once again to Great Falls, John and their son Roger opened a watch repair business.  John, the love of her life, died of lung cancer in 1985.  Betty changed careers in 1988 and was hired by the Great Harvest Bread Company where she helped make and sell bread, cinnamon rolls, and cookies for 12 years, retiring at age 75.  She married Dave Marshall in 1990 who died of a heart attack in 2002.

Betty’s three husbands passings left a woman who had always been strong and independent, but she was virtually never alone.  Her three “boys”, Jerry, Roger and Danny were always part and parcel of a team of sorts with Betty as the senior member. When her sons needed help of any kind, Betty was always there for them and their families.  She helped them with school, transportation, housing, health, employment, relationships, and personal disasters.  She really never needed to be asked to help, she just stepped up and did what was necessary; no questions asked.  And this team did the same for Betty when she needed assistance.  The three men and their wives learned to step up by watching her example, so when she needed help, it was always right there in so many ways.  She embraced each son as a teammate and they all (including sons’ wives, grandkids and even great-grandkids) made certain that her later years’ needs were tended to.

Betty had a life full of challenges, complications, travel, losses, and togetherness.  Her sense of humor was a kick – several times she would tell a son, in front of the other two, that he was her favorite.  And that was true, they were each her favorite, each having positives that she revered and appreciated.  She decidedly took pride in their attributes and simultaneously politely “forgot” about any of their goofy mistakes in life.

Grandkids and great-grandkids added so much to her boys and their wives; she was very seriously wanting to let everyone know “my family has always been my most valuable possession.”  We are all proud of her for that.  Betty passed peacefully away on July 7, 2022.

Only one brother, Bob (Dar) remains after Betty’s death.  Surviving Betty’s death are son Jerry (Ev) Rukavina, their sons Ryan and Jason; son Roger Evans; son Danny (Shelley) Evans, their children Cody, Jessica, Brad, and stepchildren Justin and Nicol.  Fourteen great-grandchildren remain.  There will be a memorial for Betty in the future.

OBITUARY CORRECTION

Betty Jane Marshall’s obituary appeared in the Great Falls Tribune last Sunday, July 24th but two facts were inadvertently and accidentally omitted.  Merisue Tregillis (Danny’s former wife) is the mother of Betty’s grandchildren, Cody, Jessica, and Brad Evans.  Additionally, Betty’s brother Bob and his wife Dar are Ericksons (their last name was also omitted).  The author of the obituary deeply apologizes for the errors.  JR

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