Bebe Love, 98

Billie Burke (Sanders) “Bebe” Love, 98, passed away on Friday, May 26, 2023, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

She was born on August 9, 1924, in Amarillo, Texas to Willie and Robert Sanders. She grew up in Roswell, New Mexico. Bebe graduated from Roswell High School in 1942 and followed her dream to travel by hopping aboard a Greyhound bus to New York City. She soon became homesick and heeded her mother’s advice to come home. Her mother was working at Walker Air Force Base and encouraged Bebe to take a secretarial position at the base.

After work, she danced six nights a week; on the seventh night, she would go to bed at 5:00 P.M. and sleep until the next day. She loved to dance with men from the east coast; she said she never met a Californian who was a good dancer! Two years later William Love came to work at the base and Bebe became his secretary. She and Bill played bridge once a week with friends. She worked for Bill for two years, until he returned to Montana School of Mines to finish his education. From Butte, Bill called Bebe and proposed. They married in 1946 and after a long honeymoon in Canada, Bill took a job with Hecla Mining Company.

They made their first home in Osburn, Idaho, and went from there to a home in the Burke Canyon while Bill worked at the Star Mine. Bill next ran the Atlas Mine in Mullan; they moved to the superintendent’s home adjoining the mine. In 1954, Bill was hired to help start the Radon mine in Utah and the family moved to Moab. They returned to northern Idaho a year later and bought a home in Silverton, where they lived for the remainder of their marriage, divorcing in 1972.

Bebe next attended North Idaho Junior College and subsequently became a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch in Spokane, eventually becoming their first female vice president. She lived in Spokane for almost fifty years before her health declined and she moved to Sandpoint.

Bebe rarely found a card game she didn’t love . . . and win! She was an avid gambler whose motto was: “Don’t bet unless you can afford to lose. Gambling is a game and the money you spend is the price of your entertainment.” When she wasn’t on one of her annual Thanksgiving trips to Las Vegas with her brother, Pat, and his wife, Margaret, she could often be found at Northern Quest Casino. She also loved to golf and was one of the first women members at Manito Golf Club. She played bridge throughout her life and cherished her bridge groups. She learned mahjongg later on in life and quickly became an avid player. For decades, she thoroughly enjoyed her front-row center seat at the Best of Broadway. She loved to travel and one of her most memorable journeys was to China with her dear friends, Bob and Jean Sagerson and her brother, Bob. Christmas was her favorite holiday and her tree always overflowed with gifts. She was a 50-year member of PEO’s Chapter X in Wallace.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Robert Sanders, and a nephew, Burke Sanders.

She is survived by her brother Pat Sanders (Margaret) and by her three children: Bob Love (Suzanne), Tamara Verby (Steve), and Mike Love (Connie). She leaves behind seven grandchildren: Jenna Munoz (Hugo), Katie Villa (Jesse), Jillian Klaucke (Jonathan), Kevin Love (Katie), Kara Verby, John Love and Viktor Love. She also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren: Daniella Munoz, Ellie, Ingrid and Hannah Love, Greta and Andreas Klaucke, and Jackson Villa.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, from 1:00-3:00 pm, at Studio E, Epic Sports Bar, at Northern Quest.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Bebe’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.