Betty Jean (Bunch) Spoljaric, crossed over Monday, August 1,
2016.
Betty was born to Harold and Cecile Bunch in Boise, Idaho,
September 17, 1926. Until the first grade Betty lived with her family in
Deadwood, Idaho. After they moved back to Boise, Betty attended Whittier
School, Lowell School, North Junior High School, and graduated from Boise High
School. During the Second World War, Betty worked at the Granada Theater as an
usher and was the first lady to work in the Falk’s Men’s Store as a clerk.
Betty met her true love, John, who was stationed at Mountain
Home Airbase as a pilot. They were married July 20, 1945. They were
the parents of a son, John J., and daughters Sally and Susan.
Betty was active in P.T.A., Cub Scouts, and 4-H. She was a Past
President of the Bench Lady Lions Club, Southwest Idaho China Painters Club,
Past Queen of Iras Temple No. 40 Daughters of the Nile, a member of Meridian
Eastern Star, and Ladies of the Oriental Shrine.
Betty enjoyed painting china and was a charter member of
Southwest Idaho China Painters Association and won several ribbons at the Idaho
State Fair. She sold many of her pieces.
John and Betty enjoyed several cruises including the Caribbean
Ocean, Panama Canal, and the Greek Islands. They also traveled to France,
Italy and Yugoslavia.
After John retired, they travelled in their R.V. with friends,
Carroll and Jeannette Shelton, for many years throughout the U.S.A., Mexico,
and parts of Canada. They became snow birds in Apache Junction, Arizona and
spent the summers in Donnelly on the Cascade Lake for a number of years. They
ultimately moved to Caldwell.
John and Betty were married 54 years. John passed away in 2000.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, her older brother,
Bill (killed in 1944 in World War II), grandson, Bradley Spoljaric, and
great-grandson, Samuel Martin Cullen.
Betty and her daughter, Susan, were blessed to live together for
nearly 15 years prior to Betty’s passing.
Surviving
Betty are her son, John J.; daughters, Sally (Richard) Tom, and Susan Cullen;
grandchildren Kirsten (David) Coyle, and Carly (Dane) Spoljaric, Laura (Trevor)
Black, Christine Carr, Keri Rueckert, Jana Cullen, and Jeffrey (Shauntell)
Cullen; great grandchildren Asher and Brayden Coyle, Rowan Spoljaric, Chase,
Joshua, and Whitney Black, Ryker and Rylee Sanchez.