Allen Andrew Betts
On July 11, 2021, at 73 years of age Allen Andrew Betts was called home by his lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was born March 17th, 1948, in Miles City, MT, to Guy Andrew Betts, and Morita Frances Redding of Hardin, MT. He was the second of five children. His younger years were spent in the Hardin area and on Sarpy Creek with his brothers at his Grandparents, Bud and Vella Redding’s place.
His school years were in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana where he graduated from Stevensville, MT. His favorite activities in school were choir, high school football, and track.
After graduation he moved to Seattle, WA where he worked for Boeing for a while before returning to Montana, as he put it to get away from girls, he went back to Bud and Vella Redding’s place on Sarpy after joining the army and attending basic training. While at his grandparents home, he met the neighbor girl, Carol Crum over a dipping vat while working cows in March. Being the fast mover he was, his words, he asked her out in August of that year. They were married June 1st, 1970, in Hardin, MT.
He was working at the sugar beet factory in Billings, MT when his first child, Dena, was born. He then went to work on the railroad and transferred to Glendive, MT. His first son, Stacey, was born in Billings. He then got transferred to Fallon, MT. His second son, Dante, was born in Glendive, MT. After the railroad he moved to Hamilton, MT to raise pigs and work on a dairy. His brother, Jim, taught him to drive truck, and he started driving truck over the road, which took the family to Boise, ID. where his youngest daughter, Kamie, was born. Driving truck then took the family to Hayden, CO where he drove coal truck for five years before returning to the Billings, MT area. He started hauling propane for Summit Transport for the next 33 years which took him all over the 13 western states.
He always enjoyed spending time with his family, playing guitar, and singing for anyone that would like to listen. He enjoyed gardening, canning, and took over the cooking while Carol was still working. Always made sure people never left the house with an empty stomach, or a backseat full of garden goods or canned food. His goal was to uplift every person he met, and tried to make them smile and laugh. He loved his country and believed in the constitution. Always took time to thank our veterans and military personnel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Morita Betts, brother Guy “Rick” Betts, and many friends and extended family that have passed before.
Survived by his wife, Carol Crum Betts, daughter Dena Betts VanGorder (Myles), sons Stacey Betts, Dante Betts (Valerie), Kamie Betts, 17 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and three more on the way.
A burial ceremony will take place at 10am Tuesday, July 20 at the Hardin Cemetery and funeral services will be at 1pm Tuesday, July 20 at the LDS Church building at 912 Wicks Ln. in Billings, MT.
