Betty Louise Stone

Betty was born June 5, 1924, to Robert V. and Ferne (Fenrich) Stubblefield in Nyssa, Oregon. She was raised and educated primarily in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho and nearby eastern Oregon. She attended Parma High School and the College of Idaho (where she finished her degree in Education in the 1960s). She married Jerry Duncan Stone on October 8, 1944. Together they raised three children, Terry, Marcia and Tom. After moving between Idaho and Oregon for a few years, the family settled in Parma, Idaho in 1954.
Betty began teaching kindergarten in 1958, before it was part of Idaho's public school system. She started a private kindergarten held upstairs at Parma's Community House, and six years later, renovated her home and taught private kindergarten there until 1975. She then taught kindergarten in the Parma School District until retiring in 1990. Betty loved teaching young children and was dedicated to making sure her students learned the basic concepts and skills needed to succeed in first grade. She regularly spent her own money on classroom materials and her time on weekends and vacations grading, planning lessons and reaching out to students and their families. She taught hundreds of students over her thirty-two-year teaching career, many of whom still remember her fondly today. Kent Anderson, Principal of Parma Grade School when Betty taught there, once said of her, "I don't know any teacher who cares more about kids."
After Betty retired from teaching, she started a second career assisting Jerry with his second career as a CPA. She kept the books for Jerry's office from 1990 to 2007, when he retired. One of the highlights of their accounting adventures was a trip to China in 1990 when Jerry was chosen to tour China to evaluate agriculture farms. They had a wonderful time!
Betty was not only a beloved teacher in Parma, but also active in many areas of her community. She sang in the choir at Parma Presbyterian Church, served as President of the Old Fort Boise Historical Society, and was an active member of the Parma Art Guild. She was also a talented artist and painter. Her oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings of landscapes, still life, animals and children won prizes at many local art shows and now hang on the walls of her children and grandchildren.
Betty's greatest legacies are the unconditional love and support she gave to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the commitment and care she gave to her community, and the warmth and dedication she showed her many, many students. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.
Betty is survived by her children, Terry L. (Tora) Stone of Moscow, Marcia (Bruce) Hovey of Lake Oswego, OR, and Thomas W. (Monica) Stone of Nampa; 7 grandchildren, Candy Sunick, Jennifer Smith, Melissa Stone, Zane Hovey, Windy Womack, Emily Franklin and Megan Stone; 11 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; and two brothers, Allan Stubblefield and Jim Stubblefield. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert V. Stubblefield, her mother, Ferne (Stubblefield) Cadle, her brother, Robert Stubblefield, and her husband, Jerry D. Stone. Betty's family extends thanks to Grace Assisted Living in Caldwell, where Betty resided the past two and half years, and heartfelt gratitude to All Care Hospice for taking such extraordinary care of her these past six months. To Betty's hospice social worker and nurses - Mindy, Krista, Donna and Vanessa - you are angels on earth, and we are deeply grateful to you for caring for our mother and grandmother with such skill and compassion.
There will be a private graveside service for family.

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