Myrtle 'Betty' Moering, 87

Myrtle “Betty” Moering of Tigard, Ore., formerly of Coeur d’Alene, was born in Jones County, Miss., on April 6, 1923, one of 13 children of Thomas M. and Cassie (Smith) Purvis. She departed this life on June 10, 2010, in Tigard. She now resides in Heaven where she is surely singing joyful songs. She used to say that during the “Depression,” they were luckier than most because they lived on a farm. Farm work was definitely not her passion. She always said she would much rather do the cooking and other household duties than pick cotton and work in the fields. Needless to say, she didn’t always get a choice.

After graduating high school, she attended Jones Community College. WWII was under way, and she decided to leave school and enlist in the “Women’s Army Corps,” where she served as a Dental Assistant, working with prisoners of war, as well as GIs. While in the Army, one of her friends wanted her to go on a date with a “nice boy” who was also in the Army. This was not something she wanted to do, so she refused several times. Finally, she gave in and said she would go on the date. She and Glen E. Moering were married Aug. 19, 1946, and were together until his passing in 1994.

Glen was from Wisconsin and that is where they made their home after the war. They started a family about two years later, and within 10 years had three boys and three girls. They lived in Muskego, Wis., until 1959, when they moved to Southern California, and then moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1980. Myrtle played a big part in helping her husband begin several of their businesses, while still taking care of her six kids. She was known to her grandchildren as “Grammy,” and she dearly loved each one of them.

She is survived by her six children, Glen Jr. (Rebecca) Moering of Atlanta, Ga., and their five children, Shirley Moering of Coeur d’Alene and her two children, Gwenda (Marty) Nielsen of Bakersfield, Calif., and their child, Greg of Coeur d’Alene and his four children, Sue (Hank) Piersma of Sherwood, Ore., and their three children, Grant (Connie) Moering of Coeur d’Alene and their three children; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; brothers Edwin and William (Haskell) and sisters Tressie, Rosalie, Mary, Winnie Pattie and Miriam (Hazel).

Mom loved reading, and singing and dancing around the house. Mom, we love you, and look forward to when we shall be reunited.

At the family’s request funeral services will be private. You may visit Betty’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.