Betsy Mercia Kekich

KEKICH- Betsy Mercia Kekich, went peacefully to our Lord on Thursday, February 24, 2011. She was born on July 14, 1929, in Devon Port, County Plymouth England, the daughter of Charles and Mercy Mitchell. The fourth oldest of eleven children, Betsy grew up in war torn England during World War II in Weston-Super-Mare. She survived Nazi firebombing and would run to the sea when the town was ablaze “because it was the only thing not burning” with several of her siblings. She enlisted in the British Royal Army in 1947 and was a member of the ATS-Auxiliary Territorial Service stationed at Lark Hill overlooking Stonehenge. She was an NCO in charge of a shift of mess orderlies in a large officer’s mess. She served her homeland for 2 years. Once leaving the army Betsy had several jobs including waitressing and retail clerk. During the Korean War while attending a dance she met the love of her life, this Yank Sailor from Montana on a five day leave who swept her off her feet. A nine month courtship through written correspondence ensued and in those letters a proposal of marriage took place. Betsy being the free spirit and adventurer that she was took a leap of faith and hopped on an ocean liner to come across the sea to marry her American sailor. Due to immigration restrictions, Betsy had to stay in Toronto Canada for a year before she was able to come into the US. Then on Dec 12, 1952, as Betsy would have said “to immigrate into the United States he bought me for $8.00”. On January 2, 1953 she married and began her life in America with Mitchell Kekich and had a beautiful marriage of 56 years. Betsy and Mike lived in Browning, Montana, on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation which was a complete culture shock for this reserved English girl. While in Browning daughter Kim was born and in addition she gained an instant family, Mike’s 7 and 9 year old sons. They left Browning in 1954 and moved to Mojave, California and lived for 8 years during which time her other 2 children Steve and Denise were born. She was an active President and member of the Emblem club which is the women’s division of the Elks club. After eight inspiring and exciting years in Mojave, the family moved to the big cities of the Los Angeles basin. There she raised her children and worked as a foreign and disabled student liaison at Cerritos Junior College in Norwalk, Ca. When she retired after 20 years in 1994, she and Mike moved to Albuquerque, NM and has resided there ever since. During her retirement with Mike and occasionally joined by family and friends, saw the world by cruise ship, guided tours, and individually sought destinations. In all, they traveled to 52 different countries around the globe. Most recently was her trip to her homeland of England with her daughter Kim to visit her brothers, sister and many nieces and nephews. Part of their enjoyment of traveling was to attend the reunions off the USS Stephen Potter on which Mike served where they met and made many new friends. A great joy of her life of which her family and many friends benefited was her love of cooking. Betsy was preceded in death by her father, Charles; mother, Mercy; her brothers, Micky and Kerry Mitchell; her sister Mary Lewis; her grand-daughter, Amanda K. Kekich; her nephew Colin Lewis; her niece Anita Burns and her beloved husband Mitchell (Mike) Kekich. Betsy is survived by sons, Michael Kekich, and wife, Michelle of Albuquerque, NM, Brian Kekich, and wife, Janet of Missoula, MT, Steven Kekich, and wife, Nanette of Buena Park, CA; daughters, Kim Milosevich of Rio Rancho, NM, Denise Meek and husband, Jim of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren, Kristen Elliot and husband John of San Francisco, CA, Stacey Smith and husband, Mike of Missoula, MT, Reagen Dearstone and husband, Larry of Dubuque, IA, Morgan Nichole Luders and husband Ian of Albuquerque, NM, Risto Milosevich of Albuquerque, NM, Jake Brown of Phoenix, AZ, and Jovan Milosevich and wife Jessica of Rio Rancho, NM; great- grandchildren, Kathrine Leddy, Nathaniel Smith, Adrienne Leddy, Timothy Smith, Ivy Dearstone, Toby Dearstone and Mileva Milosevich. Other surviving relatives are Betsy’s brother Monty Mitchell and wife Eve, sister Thelma Burns and husband Mac, brother Graham Grey and wife Dottie, great nephew and niece Danny Holcombe and Rhonda Glaze and their families. Betsy is also survived by many nieces and nephews of various locations throughout England. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: Amanda Kekich Memorial Children's Fund, 112 Rolling Green Place, Missoula, MT, 59803 A Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at 11:30 AM with the Funeral Service to follow at 12:00 PM; both will be held at Daniels Family Funeral Services- Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE. Interment will follow at Vista Verde Memorial Park. Funeral Services are entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124 505-892-9920 www.danielsfuneral.com