Madge Ellen (Betts) Gillespie
Madge Ellen (Betts) Gillespie
Madge Gillespie died on Feb 13, 2011, at Valley View Life Care Center at age 97.
She was born Oct. 25, 1913, at home on the family farm near Nampa, Idaho, the daughter of pioneer settlers Jacob Betts and Nora Burnett. She grew up on the farm, without benefit of running water or electricity, and walked a mile to Lone Tree School. After graduating from high school in 1931, she worked as an office typist, and then as bookkeeper at Lloyd Lumber Company in Nampa.
In 1939 Madge got a job in Washington, D.C.. for the Army Ordnance Department, and there met Major Ernst Gillespie. They were married in Nampa in 1943. Ernst was assigned to Fort Pierce, Florida, and while there, daughter Bonnie was born. The next move was to Schenectady, New York, where Fran was born, followed by a stint at Redstone Arsenal, Tennessee, where Madge danced with the famous Werner Von Braun.
She went to work for the Bureau of Land Management in Boise, Idaho, in 1954, and soon divorced. As a land adjudicator, she took a promotion assignment and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1972. She was the supervising adjudicator there and received an award from the Secretary of the Interior for the work she accomplished.
Madge retired in 1975, after 26 years of government service, and returned to Boise where she bought a comfortable home. She joined St. Alphonsus Auxiliary and served as a volunteer at the hospital. Madge and her sister Erma enjoyed many travels together, including trips to Europe. She was always so proud of her two daughters, and particularly her four grandsons.
Madge was a long time member of First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies, and attended services until only a few months ago. She was also active in the United Methodist Women organization.
Madge was preceded in death by her four brothers and two sisters. She is survived by daughters, Bonnie (Mac) McOmber and Fran (Joe) Meyers; grandchildren Rich Yarbrough, Steve McOmber, Jay Meyers, and David Meyers; great- grandchildren,
Danielle, Joseph, and Sophia Meyers, and Shay and Dylan Collins; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express appreciation to St. Luke's Hospice and Valley View Life Care Center for their care of Madge during her last weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to United Methodist Women or St. Luke's Hospice.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of The Rockies, with a reception at the church after the service. Burial will follow at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Madge Ellen (Betts) Gillespie, please visit our flower store.
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