Howard Bolton Betts died November 15, in Kirkland, Washington, at the age of 92. He is greatly missed by his family and friends. Graveside services are at the Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Redmond, Friday, November 19, at 2:00 PM.

Howard was born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, October 23, 1907. He was the oldest son in a family of eight children and learned to work hard at an early age. His family established a homestead at Manyberries in 1918 and well before his teens Howard had learned to harness a team of horses and work the fields. His energy never wavered, and he became adept at everything he set his hand to do, including farming, harness and shoe repair, mechanics, construction, and carpentry. He was still working in his wood shop building items for his grandchildren and great grandchildren until four months before his death.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Doris Eleen Hovey, January 13, 1932, at Cardston, Alberta, Canada. The couple farmed in the Raymond area until 1944 when they bought a farm near Rosemary. Howard and Doris operated the farm until their children were grown and moved away. To “retire,” he opened a shoe shop, first in Rosemary, then in Brooks, Alberta, which soon became a large, full-time operation that he ran with Doris, one of his sons, his daughter, and other employees.

In 1984, at age 77, Howard retired again and he and Doris moved to Fort Worth, Texas. In 1985 the couple served as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area. In 1988, they moved to Kirkland, Washington. Howard was a faithful church member and served in a number of church positions throughout his life.

Howard is survived by his wife, Doris, two sisters, Lenna Pacy of Langley, BC and LaVeve Crapo of Rosemary, Alberta, one brother, Thorald Betts of Castles, Alberta, his daughter, Denyse Geddes of Victoria, BC, three sons, Kent Colin Betts of Salt Lake City, Utah, Roderick G. Betts of Mapleton, Utah, R. Bartly Betts of Kirkland, Washington, 21 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.