Betty Lou Cooper Kunz, 89, of Rexburg, died peacefully at her home on February 15, 2014 surrounded by her family.

She was born December 23, 1924 in Provo, Utah, to Charles Drue and Vera Calanthe Smith Cooper.
She lived in Rexburg during her early years, where her dad taught school. During the summers, they camped in a tent in Teton Valley while her dad worked there. She had fond memories of those carefree days with her family. Later they moved to Teton Valley for several years and she attended school in Alta, Wyoming, before returning to Rexburg and graduating from Madison High School in 1941.

She married Dale Kunz on September 3, 1944 in Benton, Arkansas. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1955. They lived in Teton Valley until 1960, when they moved to their current home north of Rexburg. In 1964 she began working as a secretary at Ricks College, and worked there until her retirement.

Betty and Dale enjoyed spending time with their family, taking trips to St. George and Island Park, New York and Minnesota to visit grandchildren and enjoy the beauties of nature.

Betty loved being a wife and mother most of all, and was very supportive of her husband. She showed strength when they moved to Rexburg with 20 cows, 5 children and a small amount of money to begin a new chapter in their lives; and again in 1976 when the flood destroyed their home and they started over once again. Since Dale's death in 2011, she has continued to provide strength to her family, and was very active and busy until the week of her death. She enjoyed making quilts and raspberry jam, working on jigsaw puzzles, and using her computer to keep track of her family near and far away.


She is survived by her children, Jim (Katie) Kunz of Idaho Falls, Hal (Debby) Kunz of West Jordan, Utah, Shane (Debbie) Kunz of St. Anthony, Jill (Bruce) Wilding of Salem, Ann (Lee) Dexter of Rexburg; a brother, Dick (Carma) Cooper of Rexburg, 24 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Jack Cooper; sister, Jean Kunz; and great-granddaughter, Brevan Belnap.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the Salem LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday, February 21, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 at the church prior to the services.
Interment will be at the Cedron Cemetery.