Betty Ann Spadafora

Betty Ann Spadafora of Montrose, Colorado passed away peacefully at home Thursday, February 19, 2015, at the age of 81. Her steadfast Catholic faith and devotion were a constant in her life, most especially as her health deteriorated in the last few years. She was ready to greet the Lord and precious family members.

Betty Ann was born March 2, 1933 in Paonia, Colorado to Louis and Francis (Rebeck) Kochevar. She attended elementary school in Bowie, graduated from Paonia High school and attended one year of college in Grand Junction, Colorado. While living in Grand Junction, she worked at both City Market as a secretary and at Enstrom Candies.

Betty Ann married her other half, Frank Spadafora, on February 25, 1953 in Paonia.  She died just six days short of celebrating 62 years of marriage.

Frank and Betty Ann enjoyed their membership in the Woolgrowers Association and attending the annual banquets with their ranching friends. On the family photo wall in their home, they proudly display a photo of Frank standing next to former president Gerald Ford barbequing a lamb at the Woolgrowers State Convention in Vail.

During their rich life together Betty Ann worked as Frank’s right hand in the sheep business and followed him to Green River, Utah, Ragged Mountain, Somerset, Grand Junction, and finally to Montrose, Colorado.  They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983, where she worked as a bookkeeper and auditor at Ellis Island Casino until she retired less than a year ago at the age of 81. They moved back to Montrose in May of 2014 to be near their sons and families.

Betty Ann enjoyed raising tomatoes wherever she could find a patch of dirt, dancing with her handsome husband, cooking for hunters at the family hunting lodge, making traditional Austrian dishes and Italian cookies during holidays, picking mushrooms and gathering dandelion greens in the mountains, adding to her sheep figurine and jewelry collections, taking photographs of her grandchildren, winning “Royals” on the slots, shopping on QVC, and lovingly crocheting, knitting, and sewing treasured keepsakes for her family.

Surviving family members blessed to have had “Grandma Ann” in their lives are her loving husband Frank Spadafora; sons Ed Spadafora and wife, LeAnna, of Montrose; Randy Spadafora and wife, Kellie, of Hotchkiss; grandchildren Jonathan and wife, Sandi Spadafora and great grandchildren Andrew, Allison and Avery, Broomfield, Colorado; Tayllor Spadafora, Nairobi, Kenya; Cameron Spadafora, Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and Kelsey Spadafora, Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by her sister June Miller of Grand Junction, as well as numerous nephews and nieces, special sister-in-law and friend Charlotte Cholas of Grand Junction and her Aunt Mary Rebeck of Hotchkiss.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Jim Kochevar, and several aunts and uncles who considered Betty Ann to be one of their children.

Cremation has taken place and at Betty Ann’s request, no formal service will be held. The family will gather at a later date when the grandchildren are able to be present to celebrate her life.  Cards of condolence may be sent to Frank c/o Ed Spadafora, 4037 N Townsend, Montrose, CO 81401.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to honor Betty Ann’s memory donate to Hope West Hospice.  Arrangements are under the care of Crippin Funeral Home.