Betty Elaine Howell

Betty Arntson Howell passed away on July 5, 2022. She was 96 years old. Betty was born on February 26, 1926 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.  She was one of six children born to Adolph and Elrena Black Arntson.  She had three older sisters, Gertrude, Dorothy, and Annabelle, and two younger brothers, David and Wayne. 

In 1942 Betty moved to Duluth, Minnesota where she finished her last year of high school.  In 1946 she married Berton M. Palmer.  Late in 1950, they sold their house in Duluth, and decided to relocate to California.  They traveled extensively visiting friends and relatives on their way to California.  They stopped in Pocatello, Idaho to visit her sister Gertrude, who with her husband John, had moved to Idaho in 1946 to attend college.  After visiting, they decided not to continue to California and settled in Pocatello. Betty and Bert built a house in 1955, the same year they joined Grace Lutheran Church.  They had four children, Vern, Kay, and Linda all of whom preceded Betty in death, and Bart who resides in Pocatello. 

Betty attended ISU from 1967-71 and completed her teaching degree.  She then taught for two years in Blackfoot, one year in Tyhee, and the remainder of her career in Homebound teaching in Pocatello, retiring in 1983.  In 1975, Betty and Bert divorced.  In 1983, Betty married Bertie Howell, a longtime resident of Pocatello and a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Bertie died in 2018.

Betty’s message to us all; “Let my friends rejoice and celebrate my long life.  I had everything!”

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Thursday, August 4, at 2pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 1350 Baldy Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho  83201.

At Betty’s request, in lieu of flowers, all remembrances should be directed to Grace Lutheran Schools, 1350 Baldy Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho 83201.

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