Betty Lorene (Lords) Solterbeck

BETTY L. SOLTERBECK - PAYETTE
Betty Lorene Solterbeck, 93, of Payette passed away Thursday, June 18, 2020 at home with her husband and daughter by her side. Condolence's may be made to Betty's family at www.shafferjensen.com.
Betty was born on Sept. 28, 1926 in Leslie, Idaho to Floyd and Grace Lords. When Betty was young, her family moved from South Eastern Idaho, to New Plymouth, to Weiser and finally settling in Payette. She had two older brothers to pick on her, and a loving older sister that sang to her.
Betty met Allen when she went to her best friend Kathleen's Sunday family picnic. She asked Kathleen who that was and Kathleen said, "Oh, that's just my cousin". When she was a junior in high school she worked at The Pup, it was a diner and bowling alley. One night Allen asked if he could walk her home and he held her hand. And that's how this wonderful family started. A city girl, a country boy and they made it work for almost 75 years.
They were married at the Methodist preacher's home, caught the bus to Weiser, stayed at the Washington Hotel, and went to dinner, swimming and a movie. The next day caught the bus back to Payette and started picking prunes.
Being a city girl she loved the animals on the farm. Allen said don't get attached to them or name them, they are here to make money.
In the early years she would cook lunch for the haying or threshing crews. This was no small meal; it was a full blown dinner with meat, mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetables, rolls and dessert.
The ladies of the neighborhood: Letha, Fleda, Jean & Betty got together often, drank coffee and darned socks and called themselves the Unholy Four.
When Gary & Tobe were 8 to 11, she was a Cub Scout Pack Leader. When Norma was 8 she started Girl Scouts in Payette County and received an award for her service to The Silver Sage Council.
For her birthday present, Allen bought her a tractor, he plowed, she would disk & harrow and when she got done with that field he would have another field ready. She loved every minute of it. They would sing songs as they worked together.
She hiked with Allen hunting deer armed only with a pair of binoculars and a keen eye for game. She handed down her abilities to spot game to her sons, daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren by counting horses on every road trip.
In 1977, Allen and Betty, with their kids and their families built a cabin on Bear Creek. Betty enjoyed feeding hummingbirds, watching wildlife, fishing, mushrooming with her family and friends. What a legacy to leave her family.
She loved going for car rides, snowmobile rides & jeep rides or just walking, loved being outdoors. She also loved hunting, fishing, gardening, cooking and helping her family.
Mom was thoughtful even to the end. In the car it was always "does dad want to sit up front" and "does dad want a drink of the coke" and "look at all the cars". She was always thanking Gary & Norma for taking such good care of them.
A special thank you to the Amazing June, Super Stephanie, Erica and Elise at Canyon Home Care & Hospice, and also Vinney at Family Resource.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Bill and Vernon Lords, a sister, Helen Hone and a son, Tobe Solterbeck.
Betty is survived by her husband, Allen Solterbeck of Payette; son, Gary (Terri) Solterbeck of Payette, daughter, Norma (Scott) Olson of Payette, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.