Obituary of Betty Stiles

August 16, 1940 - February 27, 2023 Betty Joan Stiles went home to be with her lord and passed away peacefully on the 27th of February 2023. Family and friends had been by her side. Betty’s interesting life began on August 16, 1940, as Betty Hegg, in Kalispell, Montana to the loving arms of her parents, Herbert and Evelyn Hegg. In the hospital, Betty was known as the “Miracle Baby” for having the rare distinction of being born at 2 lbs. 12 oz. and surviving. From birth, Betty was a fighter for survival. This incredible showing of strength and resilience would help Betty to climb and conquer the many hurdles and obstacles she would face in her lifetime. As a child Betty grew up on a small farm Northwest of Kalispell, Montana. Betty was one of four children. Besides Betty, there was her older brother, William Francis Hegg, and younger sister, Marilynn (Hegg) Boulden. Except for the family moving briefly to Choteau, MT and Vancouver, WA Betty would always call Kalispell her home. Betty graduated from Flathead County High School in 1958. Some of Betty’s interest were singing in the Acapella Choir all four years in high school and riding horses on the farm. After graduating from High School, Betty worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Kalispell General Hospital. The United States at this time was entering the first phase of what would be known as the Vietnam War. Like her father who bravely served in World War 2 Betty had a strong conviction to also do her part to serve her country. In 1959 Betty joined the United States Navy. Having some experience in the medical field, Betty schooled and served in the Nurse Corps until her honorable discharge from the Navy. It was during this time while Betty was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California that she met the love of her life, also a Navy Corpsman. It was August of 1961 that Betty Hegg married Charles (Chuck) Stiles. Charles and Betty welcomed two sons. Charles Stiles Jr. and Gregory Stiles. Later, they were transferred to San Diego. It was while in San Diego, Chuck was assigned to a tour in Vietnam. In June of 1965, tragedy struck the Stiles family as Chuck would lose his life while serving with distinction in Vietnam. Having just lost the love of her life and the father of her two boys, Betty’s strength and resilience took over. It brought her a greater appreciation for life, closer to her family and friends, stronger, more spiritual, and more inspired. Betty brought the boy’s back to Kalispell to be on the farm. Betty’s parents and younger sister, Marilyn along with the farm animals, cared for the Boy’s while Betty was busy preparing for her family’s next adventure. Betty with her two sons moved to Missoula, Mt. Betty attended Montana State University studying Nursing and Physiology. She was also working at a Nursing home on the side. It was in Missoula that Betty met her second husband, Greg Nelson and in 1973, there they went to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho and were married. After being married the family moved to Portland, OR. In October of 1973, their youngest son Michael Nelson, was born. By then the family had settled in the Gresham area. Betty and her husband Greg were divorced in 1978. While Betty and her boy’s remained in Gresham, Betty had made many friends. She referred to them as “her family away from her family.” In 1976, Betty was hired and worked as a Corrections Officer for the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. Betty loved her job, serving the community and the people who lived there. In 1987, due to a serious car accident, Betty was forced to retire from the Department of Corrections due to her injuries. These injuries troubled Betty for the rest of her life. Having been told by doctors that she probably may never walk again, Betty told them, “I’ll show you”. Again, Betty already being a survivor, she was determined to use her faith and some real grit to show everyone that she would be back on her feet walking again on her own. And that she did. While nothing seemed to stop Betty, still recovering from her injuries, Betty took the time to go back to Kalispell to be at her father’s bedside in his last days. Betty then moved her mother to Gresham to live with her acting has her caregiver due to her mother’s advanced dementia. In Betty’s later years, as her grandmother, and her mother had, Betty began showing signs of dementia. She was not angry or scared. She always trusted her lord and believed that he had a plan for her. Betty was a true friend to everyone. While in these last few years Betty was not able to live alone. She resided in several assisted living facilities in the Gresham area. Both staff and residents knew Betty and loved her. Though Betty left a little something with all that knew her, Betty’s humor, quick wit, along with her caring kindness will be greatly missed. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Stiles Sr., son, Charles Stiles Jr. parents, Herbert Hegg and Evelyn Hegg, and her brother, William Hegg. Betty is survived by her two sons, Greg of Twisp, WA, and Michael of Camas, WA, her sister, Marilynn (Hegg) Boulden of Kalispell, MT, and former husband Greg Nelson of White Bear Lake, MN, three grandchildren, and some nieces and nephews. Services for Betty will be held at 11:00 a.m. March 22, 2023 at St. Henry’s Catholic Church, 346 NW 1st St, Gresham, OR 97030. A committal with Military Honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Willamette National Cemetery. Please have flowers sent to St. Henry's Catholic Church.