C. Joyce Bettridge

C. Joyce Bettridge (Shoop) August 11, 1928 - January 7, 2015 Joyce Bettridge, aged 86, passed away peacefully with family at her side on January 7, 2015 at her home in Denver Colorado, after a brief struggle with cancer. Joyce was born in Laurel MT, daughter of Wayne T. and Charlotte Shoop (Van Nice). She grew up in the farmland of Carbon County and attended grades 1-8 in Boyd. She and her sister Claire participated in 4-H where they learned to preserve food and sew and took blue ribbons in their projects at the county fair. Joyce attended Joliet High School where she played forward on the girls' basketball team. She enjoyed the school dances and dancing to the Night Owl's from Columbus. She was selected to go to Bozeman and compete in a Home Economics competition and took first place. Joyce graduated from Joliet High School in 1947 and moved to Billings shortly after. She worked in Billings and particularly enjoyed the time she was employed at Koppe Jewelry. Later she also worked for the Billings School District. While living in Billings, she met John W. Bettridge. They were married in 1955 and shortly thereafter, moved to Denver where they raised their three children; John, Char, and Mark. Joyce was active through the years with her church, the Denver schools and as a polling judge at election time. She had a long career as a bookkeeper and other various capacities at Colorado State Bank. Joyce enjoyed many social activities, including bridge and square dancing and always found great joy in her relationships with people. She hosted many foreign exchange students and helped them learn the ways of the U.S. culture and language. One group she drove to Yellowstone Park so they could experience some of the wonders of America. Joyce's grandchildren and great grandchildren held a special place in her heart. One of her favorite things was to take her daughter-in-laws and granddaughters at Christmas time to tea at the Brown Palace and her grandson to a Christmas play. She dearly loved all her great grandchildren and the joy and innocence they shared with her. She always kept Montana, the people she knew there and the frontier spirit close to her heart. To her family's surprise, many times they would find Joyce sleeping under the stars in the mountains or at her brother's cabin in Boyd, in spite of often less than desirable conditions. In her early 70's her adventurous spirit inspired her to go parasailing while vacationing with her family in Mexico. A few years later she went to Alaska to camp Denali, hiking the mountains and enjoying up-close encounters with the wildlife including wolves and grizzly bears. Joyce is survived by her brother Tom Shoop, sister Claire Leland and Joyce's three children and their families: son John A. Bettridge and wife Beth, her grandson John T. and his wife Kelsey, her granddaughter Sarah and great grandchildren Iris, Derrick and Jaxson; daughter Char Bettridge; son Mark Bettridge and wife Christine, her granddaughter Katie and her great grandson Connor, her granddaughter Emily and husband Matt and great grandchildren Mason, Logan and Evelyn. The family wishes to thank all of those who helped care for Joyce during her final days. Memorial Services will be Sunday, January 18th, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway, Denver, CO. See full obituary and message tribute board at www.horancares.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity UMC (c/o Bettridge Memorial) to support the various mission programs Joyce was involved with.