Elizabeth May Green

Elizabeth May Green (nee: Cook) was born in Wilder, Idaho on November 13, 1927 to John and Goldie (nee: Lane) Cook. Known by all as “Betty”, she was the eighth of 12 children.

It isn’t easy to summarize a life well-lived in so little space, but we will try.

Betty grew up on her family’s farm in Idaho and attended Wilder schools. Her early memories of life on the farm and growing up in Wilder brought her great joy. Like others of her generation, she grew up during the Great Depression and WW II; a time when family members and classmates were called upon to serve (and fight) in our nation’s military services overseas. Yet the stories she told of those times were mostly of the moments and events that brought humor into her life or showed her pride of family and the community of Wilder.

She graduated from Wilder High School in 1945, and among her classmates was former Governor Phil Batt. The bonds she formed with her former classmates continued throughout her life and they held annual reunions. Of the graduating class of 26, the four surviving classmates held their 73rd & last reunion in 2018.

Betty was first married to Thomas Turbaville and they had a son, Rex, before the marriage ended. In 1952, she married Earl Green and they had two sons, David and John.

Betty lived for several years in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, except for the two winters she, Earl, and family spent in the Tampa, Florida area where they owned and operated a bait shrimp boat.

Missing Idaho, Betty and husband Earl (an avid outdoorsman), moved to Idaho in 1959 where she lived for the rest of her life. Both she and Earl enjoyed many fine weekends camping and, upon retiring, traveled several years as active members of the Good Sam Boise Roadrunners Chapter.

Her work interest was law enforcement and she worked almost 14 years for the Boise Police Department where Betty was the first female civil service officer to earn the Advanced Idaho Peace Officers Standards & Training Certificate and earned the rank of Detective. She also worked as a Deputy Marshall for the Fourth District Court, retiring in 1990. On May 1, 2018, she was honored as the oldest Boise Police Department female officer.

Outside of work, Betty also contributed to the community as a member of three Masonic organizations (Daughters of the Nile, Social Order of the Beauceant and Boise Chapter No. 65, Order of the Eastern Star).

She was preceded in death by her husband Earl of 57 years, who passed in 2009. She is survived by her three sons; Rex, David and John, their spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins along with many others she considered to be family.

Betty especially emphasized her appreciation to Harrison’s Hope Hospice team members Dr. Chu, Peggy Williams, Heather Donahue, Teri Jordan, and staff members for the extra TLC she enjoyed during the seven years she was in the hospice program.

If desired, memorials may be donated to Shriner’s Hospital:
https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/donate
Shriners Hospitals for Children 2900 Rocky Point Dr
Tampa, FL 33607

The Wilder, Idaho Historical Museum ℅ The City of Wilder, 219 3rd St, Wilder, ID 83676

Those who knew Betty well knew she memorized and shared her love for bible verses, poetry, and well-worded prose. She chose this limerick:

As a beauty, I am not a great star
There are others more handsome by far
But my face, I don’t mind it
Because I’m behind it
It’s the people out front that I jar!

A Celebration of Betty’s Life followed by a reception will start at 11:00 AM, Thursday, 23 June 2022 at Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cloverdale Rd, Boise, ID 83713.