Betty Warren Abromeit, 93

Betty Warren Abromeit, 93, died at her home on Friday July 22, 2016, with her family at her side.

Rosary services for Betty will be conducted 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, with the Memorial Mass to be held on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at 11 a.m., also at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, with Father Dennis C. Day, officiating.

Betty was born in Sandpoint, Idaho on Dec. 15, 1922, in what she called a maternity home, to Herbert and Estella Collins Warren. Her parents came to town from their Bottle Bay home on the Northern Mail boat and eight days later her dad returned with a team of horses and sleigh for the 10-hour return trip.

Betty grew up with one older sister and two younger brothers on the family farm at Bottle Bay that was homesteaded by her maternal grandparents in 1905. Typical of area families, they worked at a variety of tasks to support themselves. Herb worked in the woods with his horses, Estella milked several cows selling cream to the Sandpoint Creamery, and they commercial fished for whitefish, hunted deer and native pheasants and raised and preserved their garden.

Betty attended the Newman School through the eighth grade, then moved to town to attend high school. She graduated from Sandpoint High on Euclid Avenue in 1939. She earned a two-year elementary teaching certificate from Lewiston Normal School in 1941.

Her first job in Bonner County was at a one-room school at Sunnyside paying a monthly salary of $85. She also taught at Westmond before starting to date local boy Ed Abromeit who had returned from World War II service in Europe with the Air Force. They were married in 1945 with their first son, Doug, born in 1947 and then Duane in 1951. She got the boys into grade school before returning to a 26-year career at Washington Elementary. During those years she earned her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education at Eastern Washington University summer school.

Betty was widowed in 1970 and retired in 1983, enjoying skiing, golf, traveling and playing bridge with her many friends. She was very proud and supportive of her grandchildren, John and Erin. Perhaps her greatest joy came from our many family gatherings at the Bottle Bay lake cabin.

In 1998, she married LeRoy Johnson, enjoying seven-plus years before his passing in 2006. They traveled and spent time with their combined family and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her husbands, Ed and LeRoy; a son, Doug; a sister, Frances; and a brother, Roy. She is survived by her brother, John (Arlene) Warren; a son, Duane (Shannon) Abromeit; her grandchildren, John (Deirdra Bishop), and Erin (Mike Bass); her great-grandchildren, Alex, Peyton, Chloe and Zoe; a daughter-in-law, Janet Abromeit; and her stepchildren, Steve (Janice) Johnson, Mark Johnson, and Chris (Rich) Swanson, and their children and grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the Bonner Gospel Mission or Bonner Community Food Bank.

Family and friends are invite to sign Betty’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

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