Betty Lou Ballou, 84

Betty Lou Ballou, 84, passed away in Centralia, Wash., on Feb. 17, 2008.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2008, in the First Lutheran Church. Pastor Dave Olson will be officiating.

Betty Lou was born on Aug. 14, 1923, in Dover, Idaho, the daughter of William and Agnes (Clemence) Sindelar. She spent her youth in Dover, graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1941, and from Northwestern Business College, Spokane, Wash., in 1942. She worked as a secretary at Geiger Field until 1946.

Following World War II, she moved to Guam, working as a secretary for the U.S. government, for one year prior to moving to Richland, Wash., and working for the Atomic Energy Commission until 1954.

On Nov. 7 1954, Betty married Forrest “Buck” Ballou and they moved to Wenatchee, Wash. They lived in Olympia, Richland, and Raymond, Wash., settling in Chehalis, Wash., in 1962.

She was secretary to Sister Virginia, administrator of St. Helen's Hospital, until Betty retired.

Betty was an excellent baker and was well known for her flaky piecrusts. She enjoyed playing cards and other games with her family and friends. She was very devoted to her husband and children.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Chehalis, was past president of the Westside Garden Club, and a former member of the Hillside Garden Club.

She is survived by her husband, Buck Ballou in Chehalis; her sons, Scott (and Janine) of Spokane, Wash., and Doug (and Cynthia) of Vancouver, Wash., and three granddaughters, Cassandra, Renee, and Madeline. Also surviving are her two sisters, Lorna Glazier Diebert of Sandpoint and Joyce Oliver of Anchorage, Alaska.

Her parents and her sister, Jean Oliver, preceded her in death.

Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, 526 So Olive, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Betty's online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.