Betty Lou Shipp, 89
Betty Lou Shipp, 89, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Jan. 20, 2022, in Elko, Nev.
Betty was born on May 31, 1932, to George and Gladys (Grenfell) Dunsmore in Kellogg, Idaho. Betty lived the majority of her life in Elk Creek, just a few miles East of Kellogg. She married Raymond C. Shipp on March 23, 1952, at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and they made their home in Elk Creek.
Betty attended the Elk Creek School and graduated from the eighth grade. She then went to work for her dad in his sawmill pulling the green chain and hauling lumber to clients. She also worked as a baby sitter for her neighbors, as well as at the Elk Creek Store as a clerk. She worked as a clerk at Benson’s Gun Shop in Osburn, Idaho. Later, she went to work at the Kellogg Laundromat in uptown Kellogg. After that, mom worked as a custodian for the Kellogg School District at the Elk Creek School where many of her children also attended. She was loved by the staff and students during her time there. She later worked at the Idaho Forest Industries offices in Post Falls, Idaho, working for her sister who had a contract there.
When most people are thinking about retirement, Betty decided to keep working and was hired for both the Shoshone News-Press and the Spokesman Review as a motor carrier, delivering newspapers to more than 300 customers in the Silver Valley. In her 26 years delivering these papers, she never missed a night and took great pride in making sure her customers received their paper(s) even if the papers were dropped off to her late — she was out there no matter the time, weather or road conditions. She finally retired at the age of 86!!!
Betty was so helpful to all of her children. She helped raise and take care of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always willing to lend a hand and even a meal. She would get in her car and travel to wherever we lived and help us out. Always our best supporter.
Mom loved to get outdoors and pick huckleberries by hand, no tools or destroying of the plants. She would tell us, “just find your patch and pick, put more in your bucket than your belly.” She was fast and always out picked her kids, mostly because we ate more than we kept. Even on her last adventure of picking berries at the age of 82, she picked more than her kids and grandkids who went with her.
Mom could make a delicious meal in no time and always had extra for anyone that might stop by or that her grandsons invited over. Her homemade pizzas, pasty pies, coconut cream, pumpkin and lemon meringue pies, plum pudding, molasses, chocolate chip cookies, fruit cake, hamburgers, turkey and ham dinners were some of her family’s favorites. Mom was also quite the hunter and was known for loading up the kids and finding a spot she could watch while keeping an eye on the car full of kids. She was successful in getting her elk over the years too.
Betty loved her flowers and was meticulous about her gardens. Many friends would comment about her flowers when they passed by her house. They admired her peonies, irises, sweet peas, daffodils, tulips, poppies and gladioluses. Mom’s favorite was her petunia tree which was always loaded and in full bloom. She loved her apple and maple trees and her beautiful yard which she kept well groomed. She had a variety of African violets that she started and grew from leaves with her neighborhood friend, Muriel Staley. She definitely had a green thumb.
Betty is survived by her nine children: Jackie and Sherry Shipp of Elko, Gene Shipp of Kellogg, Jerry Shipp of Kellogg, Julie Anderson of Rigby, Idaho, Jimmie and Leslie Shipp of St. Anthony, Idaho, Janet and Tom Van Asche of Elko, Jon Shipp of Challis, Idaho, Janita Spencer of Kellogg, and Joe and Maria Shipp of Kellogg; 15 grandchildren: Dusty, Ezra and Syringa Rae Shipp, Heidi Morrison, Apryl Coodey, Jessica Cunyas, Hailey Shipp, Bradley Beckwith, Jordie Remillong, Jaymes and Jayden Hawthorne, Merijah, and Akaya, Cherry and Carla Shipp; 19 great-grandchildren: Tadessa, Tristan, Ty, Emiley, Kaylee, Dyllan, Tanner, Baylie, Jakob, Ethan, Dylan, Austin, Bryton, Dashel, Dakota, Kaden, Kolten, Luciana and Aubree, with the 20th due in May 2022; and three great-great-grandchildren: Leo, Aly and Everly. Betty is survived by her sister, Tina Septer of Kellogg; as well as many nieces and nephews. “Blackie,” a Chihuahua, was mom’s companion and sidekick, and continues to be spoiled by her son, Gene.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, two brothers and her husband.
Betty Shipp was a longtime member of the Pinehurst Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pinehurst, Idaho.
The family of Betty Shipp has many great memories of her. She will be greatly missed as she meant the world to us and anyone who knew her. She was an amazing woman, protector of her family, had a huge heart, and was the hardest working woman ever! “Isaiah Chapter 35”
We would like to give a special thank you to: Travis Gerber and his wife, Gerber Law Offices in Elko; Dr. David White, Aspen Quick Care in Elko; Guiding Light Hospice in Elko; Burns Funeral Home and Wyatt Church in Elko, and the Shoshone Funeral Services in Kellogg.
Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is assisting the family with local arrangements. Memories of Betty and messages of condolence may be shared with her family online at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com.
