BETZ

Monty Donald Betz, formerly of Milliken, passed away Sept. 26, 2012, in Dallas, from acute heart failure following a long battle with heart disease. He was 71.

Mr. Betz was born March 13, 1941, in Milliken. In 1958, he graduated from Milliken High School as valedictorian of his class. He attended Colorado State University on a baseball scholarship.

After college, he went to California, living near his brother, Darrell, and formed a business selling and installing swimming pools. Later, he joined his Uncle Carl in his Texas construction business, in which he learned all phases of carpentry – an occupation he pursued for the rest of his working career.

Mr. Betz enjoyed baseball, fishing, cards, NASCAR races, and dancing. Later in life, he also played competitive shuffleboard.

He is survived by his daughter, Susan Lengkeek Grier and her husband, Ray, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren in McCall, S.C.

He will be greatly missed by his longtime companions, Lanna Brown of Brashear, Texas, and Vicki Lang of Garland, Texas, who both knew him as a kind and gentle person who enjoyed gardening and cooking the German dishes his mother taught him.

Mr. Betz is also survived by his aunt, Lydia Stroh, and 27 first cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Darrell A. Betz.

Gravesite services and burial are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at the Johnstown Cemetery in the Betz family plot, next to his brother, Darrell. Services will be officiated by Rev. Keith Spahr, who knew the family well. Arrangements will be coordinated by the Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins.

Following the services, everyone is invited to the nearby Johnson’s Corner banquet room for refreshments, conversation, and a review of Monty memories.

Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.