Blackmer Funeral Home

Roberta “Betty” Spencer, 75, of

Betty was born August 10, 1933, in Nezperce, Idaho, along with twin brother, Robert. She attended 8 years of Catholic School and graduated from Nezperce High School in 1951. 

On April 21, 1953, she married Gene Spencer in Nezperce. Together, they raised four children: Bill, Rich, Cindy, and Debbie. Betty and Gene farmed the Camas Prairie for many years until retiring on 1980. 

Betty enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, as well as any other outdoor activity. She especially loved farming and ranching. Later in life, she loved going on many travel adventures with her sister, Bernie Wright. Such adventures took them on cruises through the Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as several other trips throughout the U.S., such as going to see the New England Fall Colors, and more travel abroad. One of her favorite trips was going to Hawaii with her daughters, and cruising the island in a red convertible.  

Survivors include sons Bill and wife Kim of Grangeville, Idaho, Rich and wife Teri of Lynnwood, Washington; daughters Cindy and husband Patrick Woodington of Meridian, and Debbie McKinney and Mark Dorau of Covington, Washington; 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren whom she adored; sisters Bernie Wright of Reno, Nevada, Dorothy Dudley of Clarkston, Washington, and Barbara Frei of Grangeville; and brothers Fred Vogel of Nezperce, and James Vogel of Layton, Utah. 

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; a baby girl at birth; her parents; 3 sisters and her twin brother. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 26, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Grangeville. Burial will follow at Denver Cemetery near Fenn, Idaho. Recitation of the Rosary will be on Thursday, June 25, at 7:00 p.m., at the church. Viewing will be held on Thursday, from 2:00-6:00 p.m., at the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.  

The family suggests that memorials be made to Syringa Hospice in Grangeville, or St. Luke’s Hospice in Meridian. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.