Betty Lee Babcock (March 11, 1922 – August 4, 2013) was an American businesswoman, politician, and the wife of the

Governor of Montana The governor of Montana is the head of government of MontanaMontana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4. and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto ...

Tim M. Babcock. She served as the First Lady of

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

from 1962 to 1969, as a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention, and as a member of Montana House of Representatives from 1975 to 1977.

Early life

Born in Aplington, Iowa, on March 11, 1922, Babcock moved to Montana in 1926. She went to Dawson County Junior College. On September 21, 1941, she married Tim M. Babcock, who joined her father's trucking business which later became: Babcock & Lee.

Career

In 1962, Babcock became Montana's first lady when her husband, then lieutenant governor, became governor upon the death of Donald Nutter. From 1969 to 1971, Babcock served as director of the Helena Chamber of Commerce. The Babcocks opened the Colonial Inn in Helena in 1970, and Betty managed it. Betty Babcock was elected to and served in the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1972, one of 100 delegates drafting a new

Montana Constitution The Constitution of the State of Montana is the primary legal document providing for the self-governance of the U.S. State of Montana. It establishes and defines the powers of the three branches of the government of Montana, and the rights o ...

. Beginning in 1975, she served in the Montana House of Representatives as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. In 1978, Babcock and her husband wrote 'Challenges: Above & Beyond.' Babcock served as chair of the Montana Capitol Restoration Foundation.

Death and legacy

Babcock died in Helena, Montana on August 4, 2013, at the age of 91.

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Steve Bullock ordered all U.S. and state flags in Montana to fly at half staff until August 8 in her memory.

References

1922 births 2013 deaths First Ladies and Gentlemen of Montana Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Women state legislators in Montana Businesspeople from Montana Writers from Iowa Writers from Montana People from Butler County, Iowa People from Dawson County, Montana 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American women 21st-century American women {{Montana-politician-stub