Elizabeth Jean (Betty) Stockard, 106

Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Stockard, 106, passed peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 16, 2025, in Redmond, Washington.

Born May 16, 1919, in Kalispell to Valjean and Charlotte Riley, Betty spent her early years on her family’s homestead near Niarada before returning to Kalispell, where her father worked the family dairy. She graduated from Flathead High School in 1937 and attended Montana State University before moving to Seattle to support the World War II effort.

In 1942, Betty joined United Airlines as one of its first non-nurse flight attendants. She fondly recalled flying with Eleanor Roosevelt and a seat next to Clark Gable, whom she gave her lunch. She married Pan Am pilot Ray Stockard in 1947, and together they raised four children while traveling the world.

After Ray’s passing in 1990, Betty remained active, gardening, reading and traveling with Elderhostel. In 2019, she celebrated her 100th birthday at the Seattle Museum of Flight, honored by United Airlines with a feature in Hemispheres magazine.

She is survived by her children, Joe (Peggy), Denise (Joe), Ed (Torre) and Richard (Wei Qi) and grandchildren, Rachel, Joseph, Kristin, Riley, Dylan and Sam.