Elizabeth 'Betty' Ethel Funk Brandt

Elizabeth "Betty" Ethel Funk Brandt went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Valley View Home, Glasgow, Mont., at the age of 98.

Betty was born Jan. 24, 1925, to Ferdinand J. and Agatha Peters Funk at Hydro, Mont., six miles from the Canadian Border north of Chinook in Blaine County.

Mom was saved when she was 13 on July 28, 1938, at Park Grove where Rev. Williams from California was holding a revival meeting. Mrs. Dyke and Mrs. Koslovshie (friend and Sunday school teacher) influenced her in her young years. Mom was baptized on Aug. 7, 1938, at Fort Peck Lake by Mr. Everet and Mr. McClain.

Mom was a baby when her family moved by covered wagon about 225 miles to their new farm near Larsen, Mont., in the spring of 1926. Mom attended Harmony School in Larslan. Due to the drought the family was forced to move to Glasgow in the fall of 1933. Then in the spring of 1934, the family moved to New Deal, a small-town part of the Fort Peck Dam Site, when the construction of the Fort Peck Dam started.

Mom's dad bought a shack in Glasgow where mom and her sisters, Elsie, Violet, and Delsie, lived while attending high school with mom graduating in 1943. With the wartime emergency teacher shortage, mom went to Northern Montana College in Havre, Mont., to obtain her professional teacher status. Her first teaching job was at the Bjorkland School north of Nashua, Mont., where she met and fell in love with her future cowboy-farmer husband Ivan W. Brandt. They were married on June 25, 1944, at the Fort Peck Community Church.

Dad and mom purchased the Melvin Stand farm six miles north of Nashua in 1964 after living 20 years on the Otto and Effie Brandt (dad's parents) farm. Dad and mom were engaged in farming and ranching for 50 years; during those years working as 4-H leaders, seeing all their children through 4-H.

While on the farm, mom continued teaching, substituting in Nashua School. She owned and operated a ceramic shop in the basement of their home. This time her students were adults, instead of kids. Mom became a certified ceramic instructor in the late 1970s. Mom went on to become a certified porcelain doll instructor, adding dolls to her shop. Due to dad's health, they sold the farm in 1995 and moved to Glasgow where they lived for 25 years. While in Glasgow, Mom continued to own and operate a shop in the basement of her home, retiring at the age of 91.

Mom proudly displayed her dolls in three showcases, which you could see while visiting her home. Mom and her students won many awards from local, state, and national ceramic and doll competitions. Mom also sold dolls and gave her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews dolls.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Ivan; parents Ferd and Agatha Funk; father and mother-in-law Otto and Effie Brandt; Baby Robin (infancy) Brandt and son Ronald Brandt; nephew John Wessman, who dad and mom raised in his teenage years; brothers Isaac (infancy) Funk, Edward P. Funk, Robert (infancy) Funk; sisters Esther Presser, Elsie Wessman, Violet Hustad, and Delsie Brooks; brothers-in-law Frank Presser, Myron Hustad, and Robert Brooks; sister-in-law Marle Brandt; son-in-law Melvin Shephard, daughter-in-law Nancy Brandt (Don's wife); brother-in-law Gene Brandt and sister-in-law Doris Brandt; and great-grandson Baby Virts (at birth).

Betty's last few years were happily spent as a resident of Valley View Home in Glasgow. She loved her Lord and Savior all her life and was active in Bible study groups over the years. When she made her home in Valley View, she asked if there was a Bible Study Group that she could attend. There was not so she set about getting permission and started a daily Bible reading for her fellow residents. She read faithfully until recently. The home has been very appreciative of this and supported her to her passing.

Betty is survived by her children, Dixie Shephard, Glasgow, Virginia (Jon) Steffenhagen, Lake City, Minn., Don Brandt, of Kirkland, Wash., Dean (Aileen) Brandt, of Fort Peck, Michael Brandt, of Billings, Mont., and Tim (Pam) Brandt, of Helena, Mont .; daughter-in-law Karen Brandt (Ronald's wife), of Bozeman, Mont .; grandchildren, Robert Virts, Joann (Larry) Blankenship, Jonathan (Courtney) Smith, Leslie Smith, Elizabeth Bettich, Matthew (Jackie) Steffenhagen, Jenifer (Eric) Marcellus, Dan (Theresa) Brandt, Kari Hadley, Tyla (Ben) Martens, Logan Brandt, Megan Brandt, Tyrel Brandt, Cyrus Brandt, Jerami (Tabitha) Brandt, and Jarrett (Christian) Brandt; many nieces and nephews; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and special friend, Alan Kliewer, who brought laughs and joy to her life.

Family received friends on Sept. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bell Mortuary, Glasgow. Funeral services were held, at the Glasgow Evangelical Church with Pastor Seth Runner officiating on Sept. 2, at 11 a.m. The burial followed in Highland Cemetery beside her husband, Ivan.

Condolences may be left for the family at bellmortuarymontana.com

The Family would like to thank Valley View Home staff for their loving care and special friendships with Betty while she was in residence there. She treasured the special friendships she made with all.