Audrey Facer

A Date as Unique as the girl who was born on that day 80 years ago.

Audrey Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, "Betty", was born on November 22, 1933 to Roberta and Bill Kirkpatrick in the beautiful Persimeroy Valley near Challis and May, Idaho. Bill owned a small ranch in Challis and Roberta taught school there. Betty's days growing up were filled with fun times and hard work. All of her life, Betty talked fondly of her days on the ranch with her sister June and her brother John.

Betty developed her love for reading from her Mother who was never a "traditional" woman. Roberta's mother, Josephine Kennedy Renz, was the first female postmaster in the Western United States serving in Leadville Colorado. Roberta's early feminist ideas and her career as a traveling school teacher had a profound effect on Betty who was also a proud feminist all of her life.

Betty graduated from Challis High School in 1951 where she had to board away from home for two years due to the isolated location of the ranch. Betty was musically gifted and played in the school band and a dance combo group.

At 18 she met a handsome WWII veteran named Wallace Neal Facer from Malad, Idaho. They decided to share the adventure of life together and were married on April 7, 1952 at the Kirkpatrick Ranch in Challis. They embarked on a long and happy journey and remained together for nearly 48 years until Dad passed away in 2000.

Betty was loved dearly by her 3 daughters, Pat DeHerrera (Steve DeHerrera), Jean Facer (John Martinez) and Joy Facer ( Russ Mellor). She has two grandsons, Nathan and Mike DeHerrera and four granddaughters Mindy Gulati, Monica Frew, Jackie Decker and Madison Facer. She also has seven great grandchildren. Gage, Myia, Devery, Destiny, Alex, Rizah and Carmen.

She worked at HAFB for 22 years until she retired in 1987. She was one of the first female computer operators in the newly emerging field of IT. Both Betty and Neal were lifelong Democrats and Betty was proud to vote for Barrack Obama.

Throughout her life she loved to fish, watch softball and travel with her best friend Neal Facer. She spent many years watching her grandkids, reading, quilting, flower gardening and canning. She loved to travel; she visited Florida, California, Las Vegas, Idaho and Hawaii.

In 1986 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She faced MS with courage and dignity and she persevered for many years battling her disease not letting it limit her life and her happiness.

She will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, stamina, and toughness. Her will to live was strong and she lived her life to the fullest. Her spirit will always be with us and she holds a very special place in our hearts.

" . . . death is not an ending but a symbol of movement upon the path of which we are all traveling. As it may be painful to lose contact with the physical aspect of the one we love, the spirit can never be lost. We have been and will always be part of each other." John Denver

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road. Friends may visit with family from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Betty will be buried next to Neal in the Malad, Idaho Cemetery at 2 p.m. that same day.

Betty always loved flowers but if you would rather make a donation in her name please send your donation to the Northern Utah Walk MS 2014 - Team Name: Lobosjoy. Email: utahevents@nmss.org or http://www.nationalmssociety.org . We want to thank Betty’s doctor, Michael Schaelling, her caretakers at Thatcher Brook Hospice, especially Heather and all the wonderful employees at Rocky Mountain Care Center who were tender and loving with her during her stay there. We would also like to thank Becky Jensen, who was Mom’s hairdresser and friend for over 35 years.