Betty Alice Neumann, 80, of Kalispell, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, at her residence in Kalispell. She was born July 7, 1926, in Bemidji, Minn., the oldest child of Earl and Carolyn (Aldrich) Hirt.

She graduated from high school at Bemidji High School in 1944 and attended two years of college at Bemidji State College.

On Oct. 5, 1946, she married Francis 'Bud' Neumann. Over the course of 12 years, four daughters were born to Betty and Bud: Sandra, Cheri, Carol and Kari. In 1949, the family relocated to Kalispell, where Betty had resided since.

Betty had many interests during her life, including acting, figure skating, arts and crafts, cooking, duplicate bridge, reading and sewing. She worked outside her home at JCPenney, Buttrey's, and Ferguson's in Kalispell. Later she and Bud owned and operated the Sportsman's Bar and Grill, Import Motors and the Ally Cat.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank-you to Betty's many friends, who provided support and companionship during these last few weeks of her life, as well as to Hospice Home Options-KRMC group, who helped so much during the last week of Betty's life. Without their support it would not have been possible to keep her at home, which was her wish.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband of 50 years, Bud Neumann.

She is survived by her four daughters, Sandra Helsop and husband, David, of Marysville, Calif., Cheri Dale and husband, Steven, of Billings, Carol Guy and husband, Burt, of Kalispell, and Kari Farnsworth and husband, Brad, of Spokane; 11 grandchildren, Jennifer and Robyn Heslop, Cori Hedstrom and wife, Nichole, Zachary Jesse and Joshua Dale, Ashley and Amanda Guy, and Melissa, Lindsay and Taylor Farnsworth; one great-grandson, Jack Hedstrom; and one brother, Max Hirt, and wife, Georgia, of Bemidji.

Memorial services for Betty Alice Neumann will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, in the Johnson Mortuary chapel. There will be no viewing.

The family suggests memorials be made in Betty's name to Hospice Home Options, 175 Commons Loop, Ste. 100, Kalispell, MT 59901; or the Duplicate Bridge Center in Kalispell.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Betty's family.