Beth Williams 1958-2023

Sometime in the early morning hours of February 15, 2023, Beth Williams, our sister, aunt, grandmother and friend lost her life on the mountain she loved and called her forever home.

Beth was born March 30, 1958 in Great Falls, Montana to Judy and Carter Williams.

A twin to her younger brother Fred (by seven minutes), Beth entered this world the yin to Fred's yang.

We all said she came into the world to make sure it was safe for Fred, calm and measured to his Tasmanian devil personality.

Always the peacemaker and voice of reason, Beth grew up as the quiet one.

Her love of horses nurtured her through high school and later in life, family ski trips provided the escape and soul nourishing pleasure.

She attended Colorado College but left to experience the world, including travel abroad, working in restaurants and as a lifting and rigging worker for Aris Helicopters in California. It was there on the Tahoe Forest she met the love of her life, Doug Pewitt.

They married in 1989 and upon his retirement, moved to Montana in 2000, where they built their dream home on a ridge overlooking Salmon Lake.

Never content to sit still, she learned signing and became an interpreter for the deaf in the Missoula school system, making the one hour drive every school day through all sorts of weather.

She was a gracious and talented cook, the family always looked forward to her dinners at Seeley, breakfasts of eggs benedict and the annual Thanksgiving feast where she hosted all nieces, nephews, in-laws, outlaws and dogs of the Williams clan.

Dogs were as important as people to Beth and she treated both with love and respect.

Always the peacemaker, she was beloved by nieces and nephews.

She provided a calming and engaging source of comfort, reaching out to provide support, love, or if needed, a swift kick.

All of which she was extremely capable. Beth retired from the school system to care for Doug who developed Alzheimers disease. She was the perfect match and caregiver for her husband, seeing to his daily needs with patience and love.

Doug passed away and created a huge void in her life. Always the giver she no longer had her life partner for whom to care.

Through friends and family, Beth surmounted this loss and was looking forward to the next stages of her life.

Beth's view on life can be reduced to a sign in her office, "Be Nice or Leave". Now with her gone we are left to our own devices and will miss her calmness and voice of reason as well as her infectious laugh and smile.

Beth is survived by her brothers Mark and Fred, sister Marnie Bennett (Kip), step-daughters Bonnie Pewitt Weinkove (Martin), Julie Pewitt (Clarence) and Robin Pewitt Buduan (Reny); nieces, Sydney Price, Katie and Madeline Williams and their mother Ginger Williams; nephews Reece Yapuncich (Cassie) along with their children Blake, Gavin, Lily and Camree, Issac Williams (Taylor), Carter Williams, Jack Guerin, Alex Guerin and Josh Bennett; grandchildren Max and Lola Weinkove, Adrianna and Jaden Buduan.

Beth also leaves behind her lifelong friends and partners in hi-jinks, Patty Blackburn and Jeanne Hall.

Beth was preceded in death by her husband Doug in 2020 and her parents Judy and Carter Willliams.

There will be a celebration of life June 19, 2023 beginning at 2 pm at The Lodges on Seeley Lake.

Donations in Beth's memory can be made to The Seeley Lake Community Foundation, PO Box 25, Seeley Lake MT 59868 or the Missoula Humane Society, PO Box 1059, Missoula MT 59806.