On October 15th, 2020 at 5:30 pm Betty Lou Stewart passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and favorite music.
She was a resident of the Battle Mountain Long Term Care Facility for the last few years and was known as “Grandma.” She battled Alzheimer’s and Cancer and yet she was full of life.
There was never a dull moment with Grandma, between her sense of humor and unpredictable actions, Grandma would always have us laughing.
We will be forever thankful for the Battle Mountain Long Term Care staff for treating Grandma as family.
Betty Lou Stewart was born on April 26, 1933 in the Rhine Holler, known as the Ozark National Forest, in Weddington County, Arkansas.
She was born at home and had a delayed birth certificate, causing her to spend much of her life celebrating her birthday on the incorrect date of April 28th.
Betty lived in Arkansas until the age of 12, then moved to Richmond California during the war. She later moved to Globe, Arizona, where she met her future husband at a roller skating rink at the age of 16.
After only 2 dates, Edward Stewart proposed to Betty on a bridge in Globe, Arizona and they were married by July 27, 1949.
They later lived in Superior and Kingman, Arizona, where they had their three children: Wanda, Andy, and Loretta.
Betty attended Beauty School in Mesa, Arizona and graduated in 1962.
In 1965 they moved to Battle Mountain where she owned her own beauty shop.
In 1975 she opened Stewart’s Corner with her husband Edward.
They also built and ran Stewart’s Sales located on Broad street, though they sold it in 1988. From this point, Ed and Betty decided to get on the road again and this was the beginning of the Sale Trailer Days.
They traveled all over multiple states selling their merchandise at county fairs and other events, however, you would most often see Betty and the Sale Trailer set up in the parking lots of Battle Mountain.
Betty enjoyed talking with her customers and showing them “all the goodies” they had to sell-- this included blankets and her handmade jewelry.
In May of 2012 Edward, her husband of 64 years, passed away. Betty later met her good friend Harvey Hunziker.
They enjoyed lunches at the Senior Center and trips to Winnemucca together.
Betty had a love for music. She enjoyed singing and dancing her entire life. It was her love of music that brought her happiness in her last few years, especially the song “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams.
She is preceded in death by her husband Edward Stewart, her mother Mabel Rhine, her son Andy Stewart, her daughter Wanda Broadway and son in law Thomas Broadway.
She is survived by sister Patsy Draper, her daughter Loretta Sallee, her daughter in law Crystie Menson.
Her grandchildren: Camie (Mike) Gray, Ginger (Scott) Hoy, Courtney (Dan) Tomera, Dennis (Sarah) White, Tim White, Tanisha (Kip) McAlexander, Rashawna (Matt) Berry, Katashua Stewart. Great grandchildren: Kevin and Jordan Gray, Travis King-Wehe, Bailee Garner, Braden Powrie, LaRae Tomera, Brody and Porter White, Ana, Abbie, and Ashlynn McAlexander, Ashley, Bradyn, and Andrew Berry, Madison Preston and Kane Oki. Great-great grandchildren: Chase and Little Andy.
Services will be held on November 7th at 1:00 pm at the Mountain View Golf Course located in Battle Mountain for close friends and family.
