Betty Jane Turner, 97, of Concrete, Washington, finished her life journey here on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, and began a new eternal journey in the Presence of her Savior Jesus Christ, for which she has expressed a longing for some years.
Betty was born on February 26, 1921, in Oakland, California, to David Carl Joslin and Gertrude Kreutzberg Joslin. She grew up in a rural setting in Oakland, even having a pet chicken. Betty completed her education in Oakland where she graduated from Oakland High School in 1939.
She married Howard H. “Bud” Johns in 1940 in Berkeley, California. They had two children, Linda and Bill, and were married for thirteen years.
Betty began working as an operator for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company (”Ma Bell” now known as AT&T) in the Bay area in 1949 and retired as a supervisor 28 years later.
Betty married Winfield Scott Turner on October 4, 1958 in Carson City, Nevada. They spent their honeymoon on a hunting trip in Nevada and then made their home in Alameda, California. They were married over fifty years.
Betty had a love of outdoors and camping with Win and their combined family of six children. Win taught Betty how to use a rifle and when she shot a record-sized bull elk while on a hunting trip in Idaho, a photo postcard was made and was used to promote Idaho tourism fifty years ago. 
When Betty retired as a supervisor from the phone company in 1977, she and Win moved to an old 180 acre ranch on the Salmon River between North Fork and Salmon, ldaho, to enjoy hunting, raising horses, chickens, geese, sheep, cattle, peacocks, cats, and a large garden. They put up their own hay and became one of the first to raise certified weed-free hay for use in the back country. They were very involved in their local Community church in Salmon and the Back Country Horsemen, and were Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for some years in the Salmon Christmas parade. In 2007, Betty and Win donated a portion of their land bordering the Salmon River on Hwy 93 to the State of Idaho Fish and Game for a Sportsman’s access rest area, boat launch, and Red Rock big horn sheep viewing station.
In 2008, Betty sold the ranch and in 2009 they moved to Concrete, Washington to a small home near Betty’s son and daughter-in-law Bill and Jeanne. When Win passed away, Betty began regularly attending North Cascade Christian Fellowship Church in Sedro-Woolley every Sunday and enjoyed making new friends there and buffet brunch afterwards.
In her 90’s, Betty learned about football and became an enthusiastic Seattle Seahawks fan. She spent much of her time crocheting small hearts with pockets for wrapped candy in colors matching Easter, 4th July, Seahawks, Christmas, births and weddings, giving all away and donating many Valentine hearts to the Pregnancy Choices fund-raising teas at church. She was known to family and friends’ children for making ”toots,” a German term for little bags of treats given at Christmas and other family get-togethers. A Salmon, ldaho, Christian Western novel author, Connie Siebert, dedicated one of her High Meadow series books to Betty. In 2015, Betty fell and broke her hip. With tenacity and enthusiasm, she recovered and returned home on her 95th Birthday. She always enjoyed visits from her six children and their families, especially the grands and great-grands. She was recently getting acquainted with her little great-great granddaughter Piper.
Betty is survived by son Bill (Jeanne) Johns of Concrete, WA; step-children, Scott (Bonnie) Turner of Salmon, lD; Ruth E. (Gary) Boles of Alaska and Hawaii; Gary (Elena) Turner of Bozeman, MT; and Paul (Renae) Turner of Hayward, CA; grandchildren, Garrett (Tracy) Johns; Ryan (Erin) Johns; step-grandchildren, Robin Fischer, Jodi Fischer (Eric) Fullerton; Lance (Kimmie) Fischer; Mark (Diana) Turner; Veronica Turner; Alex Kalinin; Damian Turner, Weston Turner; Therese Turner Eller (Eli); several great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; nieces, Marilyn Kopp and Judy Lion; nephews, Rod Lion and John (Cindy) Goodenough, dear friend, Doralee Mavity and treasured extended family and friends, and neighbors with whom she has maintained contact through the years. She and family were grateful to Colleen and the Hospice team and three new friends, Darla, Elaine, and Sally, who helped with her comfort care.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Win Turner; daughter, Linda Johns; sister, Margaret Lion and cousins, Bill Thompson and Billie Boelk.
At Betty’s request there will be no service. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Drive, Suite A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Mom, we miss you, your spunk, enthusiasm, and love and support of family. My own personal precious recent memory is of you and me singing loudly (and perhaps off-key) the last hymn of each Sunday service at church, holding hands and looking at each other with joy and faith, expecting that one day we will be singing those hymns of praise once again in Heaven (and perfectly on-key!) I am looking forward to that day! In the meantime, I know that you are “organizing” the choir which includes my own mom and dad. I thank Jesus for your influence in our lives. Your daughter-in-love, Jeanne