Betty Jane Abromeit

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 7:00pm Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, with the Memorial Mass to be held on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 11:00am, 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 ten 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 Ave. 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 $85.00. She also taught at Westmond before starting to date local boy Ed Abromeit who had returned from WWII 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 BA 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 7 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; son: Doug; sister: Frances; and brother Roy. She is survived by her brother: John (Arlene) Warren; son: Duane (Shannon) Abromeit; grandchildren John (Deirdra Bishop), Erin (Mike Bass); great grandchildren: Alex, Peyton, Chloe and Zoe; daughter-in-law Janet Abromeit and step-children: Steve (Janice) Johnson, Mark Johnson, Chris (Rich) Swanson and their children and grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Gospel Mission or Bonner County Food Bank.