Betty Jean Redfield Rampy

On Monday, July 31, 2023, Betty Jean Redfield Rampy of Twin Bridges, moved to her Heavenly home. Betty was a godly woman who loved the Lord with all her heart, and she loved God’s Word. Though she was a humble, gentle woman, Betty was nonetheless a powerful prayer warrior and only heaven knows what a wonderful and eternal impact all her many years of faithful praying have had on her family, her friends and the world at large.

Betty was born April 21,1929, in San Jose, CA to Ralph and Clara Redfield. They moved to the Redfield Ranch south of Twin Bridges when she was four years old.

Growing up, she was active in 4-H and showed a Jersey calf and got grand champion and grand champion showmanship twice in her teen years.

Except for her Sophomore year spent in Springfield, OR, Betty spent the rest of her school days attending Twin Bridges High School. She was editor of the yearbook, The Silver Ledge. She was the 2nd Redfield to graduate from Twin Bridges High School in May of 1947.

In fall of 1947, Betty went to Emporia, Kansas, to attend the College of Emporia. She spent one year studying physical education, hoping to become a P.E. teacher. One of Betty’s treasured memories to this day from her college stay, in which she still has the faded paper clipping titled:

A Real Ranch Girl; the article told of a real ranch girl from Emporia Kansas going to ride in the Emporia Fair. However, when she was introduced, they certified her action-packed appearance introducing her as the real Ranch Girl from Montana. Betty placed third.

In the summer of 1948, she went to Ennis to the Jumping Horse Ranch to help at the ranch. It was here that Betty met a red-headed cowboy by the name of Lee Rampy. Lee worked for the Jumping Horse Ranch as a cowboy and tended to cows at the cow camp.

Betty moved back to the Redfield Ranch at the end of summer while Lee stayed working in Ennis. The winter of 1948-49, they became snowed in and couldn’t travel to see one another. They wrote many love letters to one another that winter.

They were married on June 26, 1949, in Bozeman. They made their first home in Ennis at the Jumping Horse Ranch and spent two summers at the cow camp. Betty would accompany Lee on rides to check on the cattle.

They made their permanent home in Dillon after Lee became employed by Pfizer Talc company. Betty was a stay-at-home mom to their two children Karen and Ralph and worked part-time as a bookkeeper for Dillon Motor Supply.

In 1970, they bought 60 acres south of Twin Bridges, about a mile and half from the Redfield homestead, where Betty resided until her passing. Lee and Betty were married 72 1/2 years when Lee passed away in February 2022.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Clara Redfield, brother Ralph Jr. (Bud) Redfield, sisters Ruth (Pat) Wheeler and Phyllis (Penny) Nettik.

She is survived by her daughter Karen (Ron) Goldsberry, son Ralph (Merrie) Rampy, Grandchildren Nancy (David) Davidson, Julie and Ben Goldsberry, Brooke Rampy, Rose Sampson and great grandchildren Raina, Owen, and Gwen and brothers Robert and Keith Redfield and sister Shirley Magnus and Betty’s special cat, Tiger.

The family would like to extend special appreciation to all who have helped Betty stay in her home since the passing of her husband, especially her nearest neighbors, Kim and McKee who watched over her faithfully.