Betty Jane Demos

March 23, 1928 – October 31, 2023

Betty Jane passed away the morning of October 31, 2023, at the age of 95 years, after a full, constructive life raising and guiding a strong and loving family to maturity.

Betty Jane was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada to Marshall Peter McOmber, a trail guide and cowboy, and Alice LaVern McOmber, a ranch cook. Betty was the youngest of six children - Calvin, Gordon, LaVar, and Claude McOmber, her sister Josephine Brunner and herself, all of whom preceded her in death. They each were called by their middle name all their lives.

When Betty was a year old, the family moved back to the U.S., first to Cascade, Montana, then to a farm near Greenfield, between Power and Fairfield, Montana. She attended the Power Public School System until High School graduation in 1946. Upon graduation, Betty moved to Great Falls, Montana and worked as a telephone operator where she met Charles Gordon Watkins, an Airman in the United States Air Force, from Dunseith, North Dakota. They married July 2, 1949, and started their family while living in various places.

Their first son, Gordon, came along in Great Falls. MaryJane was born at Lages Air Force Base in the Azores Islands. They moved to Kindley AFB in Bermuda next, then back to Great Falls, where Joseph was born. Then, Biggs AFB in El Paso, Texas for a short time, then Mark was born at Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska. Back to Great Falls for Betty and the kids while Charles was deployed to a year in Saudi Arabia. Then to Larson AFB, Moses Lake, Washington, where Amy completed the family. They all moved to Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo, Japan and then to Travis AFB, California, where Charles retired from the Air Force.

Betty was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and second to her family, she was most devoted to the gospel and to the Savior. Through the years, she ministered in many capacities, holding several leadership positions in the Relief Society.

Betty and Charles were sealed for time and eternity in the Oakland Temple February 11, 1967. They served a mission together in the Salt Lake City Family History Center. They also both loved being ordinance workers in the Oakland California Temple.  After Charles passed away in December 2000, Betty served another mission in Knoxville Tennessee and at home in Fairfield, CA.

Betty was active in civic concerns. In 2002, she met a neighbor, Raymond Demos, while campaigning over a local land use issue. They fell in love, were married on March 28, 2003 after a whirlwind courtship, and have been together ever since. Raymond faithfully cared and provided for Betty for the rest of her life.

Betty is preceded in death by Gordon, her son. She is survived by her husband, Raymond, Gordon's widow Clarinda Sue, MaryJane Rowe (husband Ken), Joseph (wife Susan), Mark and Amy Watkins, stepchildren Ursala Price and David Demos, 29 grandkids, 35 great-grandkids and three great-great-grandkids, as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Viewing and Funeral service will be Friday, November 10th, at 10am and 11am respectively, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2700 Camrose Avenue, Fairfield, CA. 94533. The final resting place is Sacramento Valley National VA Cemetery.

Betty is well loved and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. We find comfort and peace knowing she is now with Heavenly Father & reunited with her family who preceded her in death.