Betty Lou (Barnhill) Nye, 88

Betty Lou (Barnhill) Nye, 88, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2004, at her home in Sandpoint.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in Coffelt's Moon Chapel with Barbara Carver officiating. Inurnment will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park.

Betty was born on Jan. 17, 1916, in Sigourney, Iowa, the daughter of George and Zua (Covey) Barnhill. She grew up in Iowa, Texas and Southern California, the daughter of a power line troubleshooter who took the family to many states along the way.

Her mother died in 1925, leaving the raising of the family to Betty at the age of 9. Betty's father was injured in a lineman's accident and she also took care of his recovery along with rearing her three younger brothers.

She met and married Albert Boffington and they moved from the ranch in Southern California to Wolf Creek, Ore. They later moved to Horse Creek on the Klamath River near Yreka, Ore., working in the mining industry. She worked as a cook in the hayfields and also worked as a bookkeeper for a hospital for many years.

Betty moved to Reno, Nev., when she became severely ill and lived there while convalescing. She met Douglas Nye and they were married in Spokane, Wash., on March 23, 1961. They resided in northeast California until 1972, when they bought some lakeshore property at Sourdough Point and began building their retirement home. They moved to their new home in 1974 and lived there until recently when they moved to Sandpoint. On March 23, 2004, they celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.

Betty enjoyed dancing, traveling, cooking and water aerobics. She was a member of TOPS, the Sandpoint Civic Club and The Emblem Club (Ladies Elks Club) in Quincy, Calif.

In life, she was exuberant, living it to the fullest. She was loving and was devoted to her loving husband and many friends.

Memorials may be made to the Bonner Community Hospice, Box 1448, Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864; or to the charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.

Survivors include her husband, Douglas Nye of Sandpoint; a daughter, Ilene (Bill) Plummer; grandchildren, Bruce Plummer, Leslie Stevens and Lynn Plummer; and great-grandchildren, Jenifer and Rachel Stevens. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and a grandson, Bryan Plummer.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.