Betty Babcock Explained

Betty Lee Babcock
Office:First Lady of Montana
Term Start:January 25, 1962
Term End:January 6, 1969
Predecessor:Maxine Trotter Nutter
Successor:Margaret Evelyn Samson Anderson
Office1:Montana Constitutional Convention delegate
Term Start1:1972
Term End1:1972
Birth Date:11 March 1922
Birth Place:Aplington, Iowa, U.S.
Death Place:Helena, Montana, U.S.
Spouse:Tim M. Babcock (1941-2013) (her death)
Party:Republican

Betty Lee Babcock (March 11, 1922  - August 4, 2013) was an American businesswoman, politician, and the wife of the Governor of Montana Tim M. Babcock. She held the position of First Lady of Montana from 1962 to 1969. Additionally, she served as a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention and as a member of Montana House of Representatives from 1975 to 1977.

Early life

Born in Aplington, Iowa, on March 11, 1922, Babcock moved to Montana in 1926. She attended Dawson County Junior College. On September 21, 1941, she married Tim M. Babcock, who subsequently joined her father's trucking business, which later became: Babcock & Lee.[1]

Career

In 1962, Babcock assumed the role of Montana's first lady when her husband, then lieutenant governor, became governor following the death of Donald Nutter. Following her time as first lady, from 1969 to 1971, Babcock served as the director of the Helena Chamber of Commerce. In 1970, the Babcocks launched the Colonial Inn in Helena, with Betty taking on the role of manager. Betty Babcock was elected to and served in the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1972, where she was one of 100 delegates tasked with drafting a new Montana Constitution. Beginning in 1975, she served in the Montana House of Representatives as a Republican. In 1978, Babcock and her husband wrote 'Challenges: Above & Beyond.' Babcock served as chair of the Montana Capitol Restoration Foundation.

Death and legacy

Babcock died in Helena, Montana on August 4, 2013, at the age of 91.[2] [3] Governor Steve Bullock ordered all U.S. and state flags in Montana to fly at half staff until August 8 in her memory.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Kirk . Kelly . State of Change: Women and he 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention . Montana The Magazine of Western History . Summer 2016 . 66 . 2 . 6 . 26322794 . 18 March 2021.
  2. News: Former First Lady Betty Babcock dies. Johnson. Charles. 5 August 2013. Helena Independent Record. 3 September 2014.
  3. News: Former Montana first lady Betty Babcock passes away at 91. Banks. Marnee. 4 August 2013. KRTV.com. 3 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140223180438/http://www.krtv.com/news/former-montana-first-lady-betty-babcock-passes-away-at-91/. 23 February 2014.
  4. Web site: Babcock to Lie in State, Flags Ordered at Half-Staff. 2021-01-19. ABC FOX Montana. en.