Betty Kencke

Betty Marie (Banks) Kencke, 87, of Great Falls, passed away February 21, 2017 of natural causes at Great Falls Clinic Hospital with family, friends, and very professional caring attendants at her side.No services are planned and cremation has taken place through Schnider Funeral Home.Betty was born May 22, 1929 in Great Falls, Montana to Mabel Helen (Weller) Banks and George Harvey Banks. Betty graduated as an honor student from Great Falls High School in 1947. She attended Great Falls College for one year on a scholarship.Betty married Bertrand Joseph Goettel in Great Falls on October 17, 1948. They owned and operated the Starway Superette on the Southside, several rental units, and in 1963, they bought the Country Club Best Western Motel. During 1963, they also built the house of their dreams in the lower Sun River area of Central Ave W. In 1964 the massive flood of the century tragically filled their brand-new house to the light fixtures on the first floor. Bert died February 22, 1965.On September 19, 1966, she married Gene H. Sherman who was employed by the Montana Fish and Game. They lived in Great Falls, Fairfield, Glasgow, finally building a house and retiring in Choteau, Montana. Gene died March 13, 1997. They enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and gardening together.September 5, 1998, she married J. Ward Kencke. He died May 20, 2005.Her survivors include a daughter Barbara Jean Goettel and Barbaras partner Kay Anderson of Spokane, WA; sons Gary Lee Goettel and David Arthur Goettel (Rowena) both of Great Falls; a stepdaughter, Mary Jean (Sherman) Brophy of Valier MT; sisters Lenora Parkins of Las Vegas, NV and Shirley Jorgensen (Bob) of Denver, CO; her best friend ever, Charlene Lester; and many, many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.She was preceded in death by a son, Steven James Goettel.