Betty Ann Raymond

Journalist Betty Ann (Graham) Raymond died peacefully at the age of 98 surrounded by her family on Nov. 3, 2017. Betty was born on Aug. 25, 1919 to Mary Catherine Fogerty and Lewis Henderson Graham in Lewistown, Montana. Betty and her family moved to Butte when she was 3. Betty married Dick Raymond on Feb. 22, 1941. Together they raised two children, Mary Lou and John. Betty’s parents built the Mary Lou Motel in 1952; which they later took over along with starting Raymond’s Fireside Lounge and Supper Club. Raymond’s was well known for the first smorgasbord in Montana and the prime location to hold a wedding reception. Dick and Betty later divorced, but remained friends and they shared a love of gardening. Betty may be most well known for her column, “The Livin End,” which made its debut in The Montana Standard on March 10, 1968. A year later her column was selected as the best column in Montana by the Montana Press Women. She went on to become the Women’s Editor and later the Feature Editor at the Standard. She was also the recipient of many awards including the prestigious Penny Missouri Award in 1971. She flew to Washington D.C to receive the award from President Eisenhower. Betty was a 65-year member of Chapter X of P.E.O. She was president of the Montana Press Women and a member of the Symphony Guild, a book club and bridge club. Betty loved to throw a dinner party and she always set a proper table with one of her 12 sets of china. She collected antiques and always took pride in her beloved china closet that was once owned by Copper King, Marcus Daly. Sign up to get each day's obituaries sent to your email inbox Betty was a world traveler. Some of her notable trips included Haiti, Ireland, and England. Betty would often go to Seattle to see her daughter Mary Lou’s ice show, which she produced for the Seattle Skating Club and when John was on the road, she traveled as far away as Albuquerque, New Mexico to see him perform in his band “Prime Cut” Betty is survived by daughter, Mary Lou Nankervis of Seattle; son and daughter-in-law, John and Laurie Raymond of Butte; grandchildren, John (Cheryl) Nankervis of Seattle, Laurie Eyman of Seattle, Sarah (Cory) Smith of Butte; and great-grandchildren, Benjamin Eyman of Seattle, and Abigail, Peyton, and Brady Smith of Butte. She is also survived by her brother, Dick Graham of Arizona; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Frank and Sharlot Richards; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Dick Raymond, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Don and Peggy Raymond and Larry and Betty Coffee. Betty chose to donate her body to science at MSU. Memorials can be sent to the Butte Symphony Guild, P.O. Box 725, 59703 or the Orphan Girl Children’s Theater, 316 W. Park St.

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Betty Ann Raymond

August 25, 1919 - November 3, 2017