Betty Jo Bridenstine
courtesy photo
Betty Jo Bridenstine
EDMONDS, WASHINGTON — Betty Jo Bridenstine, 92 years old, passed away from natural causes on Feb. 21, 2020, in Edmonds, Washington. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Edward Staves and Rose Gladys Curran-Staves, and her late husband, K. M. Bridenstine.
Betty Jo was born and raised in Missoula. As a child she grew up in the Orchard Homes portion of Missoula. After high school, she attended college at Montana State University (so named at the time) in Missoula. During college she was a Sigma Kappa sorority sister and lettered in swimming and in 1948, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business. She married K. M. Bridenstine in December 1950. They lived throughout Montana and raised four children.
Betty Jo was well-known for her involvement in various activities on and around Flathead Lake. With her love for gardening and the outdoors, she worked in family-owned cherry orchards and tended bountiful vegetable and flower gardens on Finley Point. As a lifelong reader, she shared her passion for books with her family and community by volunteering at the Polson City Library. She supported the summer reading program through handmade goods. Betty Jo remained a dedicated member of Beta Sigma Phi in Polson and the Montecahto Club on Finley Point. She will be remembered for her warm smile, for giving generously and for her talent in creating unique, handmade sewed and quilted goods. Betty Jo moved to Lynnwood, Washington, with her daughter Rose, to be near family.
She is survived by her brother, Homer Staves (Andrea) and her four children: Martin (Debi Little), Rose, Trudy (Jay Cady) and I. Jay (Kriss). She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and long-time friends. At this time the family has not planned a service or memorial.
