Betty Jane Sanks, Mom, Gramma, GG, Babs, BJ, peacefully joined her Lord on July 4, 2010, after a lengthy illness. She was born the 10th child of Henry and Minnie Klinker in Primghar, Iowa. Her parents, five brothers and three sisters preceded her in death. She married Donald Sanks in 1946, and they were blessed with five children, Diana Booth (Tom), Coeur d’Alene; Steven Sanks (Jaci), Canby, Ore.; Becky Hogg (Glenn), West Linn, Ore.; Patti Marsh (Jack), Fort Dodge, Iowa and Anissa Crane (Brian), Beaverton, Ore. They made their home in Fort Dodge and moved to Oregon in 1976, where they managed apartments. In 1988, Donald passed away after a long illness, and Betty stayed in Oregon where she took lessons and learned to drive at the age of 58! She was active in the Lutheran Church and the Stephens Ministries until 1995 when she returned to Iowa to live near her sisters and daughter Patti. She remarried in 1999. Betty and Ray resided in Fort Dodge, IA, spent winters in Arizona, and traveled to Oregon and Idaho until Ray’s death in 2002. Betty relocated to Coeur d’Alene in 2006.

She is survived by her five children, sister Lillian Hardjes in Iowa, sister-in-law Viola Sanks in Nebraska, grandchildren Shana Adolph (Jerry), Chad Booth (Jodi), Jennifer Hegar, Lisa Lemerise, Justin Marsh (Sunny), Jerad Marsh (Sarah), Mason Crane, Chloe Crane, 11 great-grandchildren (plus two on the way) and numerous nieces and nephews. Her life reflected her love and devotion to family and caring for people wherever she lived. She constantly met strangers who became her dear friends, to whom she freely gave comfort and joy.

Her celebration of life will be on July 30, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Columbia Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery in St. Helens, Ore., followed with interment with Donald. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Betty’s name to North Idaho Hospice. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Hayden Valley Assisted Living and Peggy, Linda, Rochelle (her Hospice Team) and the entire North Idaho Hospice.

Your care, love, attention, encouragement to her will always be remembered. Betty requested pink (or other vibrant color) be worn with frilly, fancy bling, and sparkles with a big smile to celebrate her life. Please, no dreary.

Yates Funeral Homes, Coeur d’Alene Chapel is entrusted with the care of local arrangements. Please visit Betty’s memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.