Bette Jean Procknow, passed away on October 11, 2024, at 90 years of age. Her last moments were spent peacefully in her room at the Oregon Veteran’s Home in Lebanon, surrounded by immediate family and care givers that had ensured her comfort, daily. Bette’s independent spirit, impeccable memory, and zest for living life her way will be missed by all who knew and loved her. The family asks that she be remembered for the joy she brought to life not the sadness of her passing.

She was born on July 19, 1934, to loving parents Harold Eugene and Elsie Ruth (Sackett) Briggs in Mitchell, SD. She graduated from high school in Timber Lake, SD in 1952 then, attended Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD and obtained her teaching certificate. Later that same year she married Roy Austin Howard of Timber Lake, SD and after a few years of relocating for his construction jobs they eventually settled in Sweet Home around 1960. As a young mother, she was a stay at home mom, and they raised three children together. After their divorce, Bette worked as a salesclerk in Sweet Home, first at Speedy Mart and later at Santiam Drug Store until her retirement. She remarried in 1973 to Bruce Warner Procknow, also of Sweet Home, and became a stepmother to his two boys. They purchased land and built a home together just outside of town on Fern Ridge Road where they remained until his passing in 2020. Shortly thereafter, Bette became extremely ill with covid, the after effects of covid, coupled with two rare neurological disorders limiting her ability to speak and care for herself added to her declining health, making it necessary for her to sell their home and move into nursing care in 2021. We thank the Oregon Veterans Home, and their doctors, for their dedication, support and care that gave mom another 3 years with us. Bette loved her family and over the years frequently returned to South Dakota for visits with family and friends that remained there. She always attended the annual Briggs Family Reunion in Oregon where memories made will remain cherished by everyone who came.

Her passions were playing pinochle, gardening, canning, sewing, and family genealogical research and never passing up a good argument. Her favorite flowers were yellow roses and daffodils. She was a member of the local VFW Women’s Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Eastern Star and the Sweet Home Genealogical Society, and along with her husband Bruce, she supported Shriners. Always giving her time and energy back to family, the organizations she felt compelled to serve and the community she lived in for over 60 years.

Bette is survived by her son Steven Howard of Sweet Home; daughter, Sandra (Anthony) Davis of Edmonds, Washington; daughter Barbara (Tom) Hanten of Lebanon; step-son Donald (Vickie) Procknow of Sweet Home; step-son Keith Procknow of Woodland, Washington; sister Janice (Gerald/d.2024) Oar of Springfield; sister Dawn (Larry/d.2016) Monagon of Keizer; sister Patricia Rardin of Milwaukie; step-sister Carol Eddy of Keizer, and step-brother Daryl (Elenor) Volesky of Orange Beach, Alabama. Bette had 8 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren plus multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bette was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years Bruce Warner Procknow in 2020; her mother Elsie Ruth [Sackett] Briggs in 1946; her father Harold Eugene Briggs in 1968; her sister Kim Lee (Bill/2016) Westlund in 2015, her sister Debra Anne (Larry) Ribble in 2024, her step-mother Deloris Delight (Emmett/d.2015) Johnson of Salem in 2024 and her ex-husband Roy A. (Donna) Howard of Sweet Home in 2019.

A viewing will be 12 pm, Saturday, November 2, 2024, followed by a 1 pm service at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Final burial will take place at Gilliland Cemetery. Immediately after the final burial, all are welcome to join the family for food, refreshments and to share memories at the VFW Hall (580 Main St, Sweet Home OR 97386) Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.