Betty E. Silvan, 82, passed away Peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, due to natural causes on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at Big Sandy Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at the Big Sandy United Methodist Church with Pastor Sharon Robertson officiating. Burial followed at the Big Sandy Cemetery. Betty’s family has suggested memorial donations be made to the Big Sandy Senior Citizens’ Center, the Big Sandy Medical Center, the Big Sandy United Methodist Church, or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Betty was born on September 19, 1934, in Great Falls, to Charles and Mary (Cikrit) Fry. She was raised on the family farm southeast of Big Sandy, attending Illiad school and later graduating from Big Sandy High School. Betty loved to tell people about her three eventful years, graduating in 1952. Marrying Otto at their mother’s homestead in 1953, and having the first of their four children, James in 1954. Son Wayne was born in 1956, daughter Lynette 1960 and the youngest, Kevin in 1963. Sadly, Kevin passed away in 1986. They made a home on their farm southeast of Big Sandy where Otto and Betty remained until after Otto’s death in 2009.
Betty proofread for the Big Sandy Mountaineer and took over writing her mother’s newspaper column “Out Southeast”. The bonus of gathering news for the paper was being able to call and chat with all her neighbors. She definitely had the gift for gab. Evening time, before heading to bed, she would write in her day book about the weather, daily activities and farming information. We would refer back to these books many times. Betty also worked as a bookkeeper for Napa along side her son Kevin, and as a cook at the Big Sandy Medical Center. Of course, her most important job was being a farmer’s wife, a mother, and later Grandma.
She took up bowling in 1979, and loved it! State bowling trips were a big bonus to the sport and some thing she really enjoyed with friends. She also loved the farm animals, flowers, poetry, butterflies, and music. Betty was an accomplished musician. Her Daddy would comment on her long fingers saying, “You are going to be a great piano player.” Despite his passing when she was six, her mother never forgot his words and eventually saved enough money to buy Betty an upright piano. Years later this same piano was used by her children for their piano lessons. She also took up playing the accordion and organ. Often time you would walk into the farmhouse to the sound of Betty playing a waltz on the piano or a polka on the accordion. When a country dance was planned, Betty played with her brother Jim and husband Otto. People would listen and dance to their music until the wee hours of the morning.
Visitors were never turned away. They were greeted with a cup of coffee, a sheet of Poor Man Cookies, and a lengthy conversation. She was never without a word and a smile upon her face. The farm was rarely quiet with the constant in and out of children, first their own and the many cousins, then neighbor children, and eventually all the grandchildren.
Betty was a member of the Homemaker’s Club, Big Sandy Ladies Auxiliary, a 4-H leader, and acted as an election judge for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Otto Silvan; her son Kevin Silvan; her daughter-in-law, Sonia Silvan; her father, Charles Fry; her mother and stepdad, Mary Fry-Adamec and Frank Adamec; her brothers Jim and George Fry; and her infant sister Clarice Fry.
Betty is survived by her children, James (Julie) Silvan of Helena, and Wayne Silvan and Lynette Faber, both of Big Sandy; her eight grandchildren, Darrell, Corey, and Nolan Silvan, Jenny Marn, Amy Holmlund, Sadie Sura, Mariah Halter, and Suzannah LaBuda; and 9 great-grandchildren.
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