BIGFORK — Betty L. Tudahl was the sixth child born to Lauritz F. and Bertha Mikkelson Ebbeson on Nov. 30, 1932, in Berthold, North Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Berthold, North Dakota. On Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, Betty passed away at her home in Bigfork that she loved so much.
She graduated from Berthold High School in 1950 and married Donald Tudahl in April 1953 at Zion Lutheran Church in Berthold.
Betty is survived by four children, daughters Deborah Durham of Bigfork, Susan (Randy) Holman of Bigfork, sons Dan (Debbie) Tudahl of Missoula, and Mark (Kelcy) Tudahl of Bigfork. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren BJ (Ronda) Holman, Jamie (Casey) Jenks, Danny (Kari) Tudahl, Bradley (Cindy) Tudahl, Nikki Tudahl, Dustin McGlothlin, Donny (Kristiana) Tudahl, Jacob Tudahl, Kyle and Alex; great-grandchildren Arena, Taylor, David, Lucy, Monty, Tatum, Tanner, Jordyn, Brittyn, Brody, Sheadyn, Khyler and Relyhk. Also surviving Betty are numerous nieces and nephews that were very dear to her heart, as well as a host of very dear and close friends from childhood, school years and throughout her life.
Friends were a very important part of Betty's life and meant so much to her.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Don in 1989, son Bruce in 2014, brothers Harry, Don, Herman and George, sister Bernice and husband Ernie Scott, Oscar Tudahl, Gaylord and Virginia Tudahl, Carol and Norma Tudahl, Harold & Emily Holland, and special nephew Larry Ebbeson.
Betty was a dedicated member of Faith Lutheran church in Hamilton since 1970. Upon moving to Bigfork, she attended Bethel Chapel with Jim Holman as pastor. She was a member of Via deCristco, served on the church board and was always very active with her church. She was also a member of the Corvallis American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of Norway of Hamilton.
Betty and Don were proud of their Norwegian heritage and that they raised five 100 percent Norwegian children. Don and Betty were very involved in their children's sporting activities and rarely missed an event. They were very active with the Montana High School Rodeo and thoroughly enjoyed working with the kids.
Don and Betty bought the home that Don grew up in, a farm in North Dakota, and they lived there until 1967 when they moved to Montana. After Don's passing, Betty sold their five-acre farm in Corvallis and moved to Hamilton in 2000 and then settled in Bigfork in 2005 to be closer to family. She loved her flowers, gardening, and working in her yard.
Betty was employed at Citizens State Bank in Hamilton for 25 years before retiring and she then traveled a bit. She was very proud of her children, their spouses and the grandchildren. She loved it when they all came home so that she could cook for them.
Services for Betty will be at Faith Lutheran Church, 171 Lewis Lane in Hamilton on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. with burial to follow at Corvallis Cemetery beside her beloved husband, Don. A reception will follow at Faith Lutheran Church.
A memorial will also take place in Bigfork on Friday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Montana Ranch, 301 Echo Lake Road, Bigfork.
