Betty Lokay, 97

Betty Lokay (Nina Elizabeth Franklin) passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. At her request no memorial service will be held.

She was born June 27, 1918, in Yakima City, Wash., to Benjamin James Franklin and Nina Lee Franklin (Creighton).

Betty had a big heart, was vivacious and was always a hard worker. At 15, during the Depression, she tried to get a job in a grocery store, but they weren’t hiring. She went back a few times and finally just started working. They eventually hired her! Betty worked at Hamley and Company in Pendleton, Ore., with her first husband, Clarence Wade Brown. Their daughter, Ruth Ann Brown was born in Pendleton on Jan. 8, 1943.

Betty and Ruth Ann moved to California. She worked at Nordstrom for several years. Betty met her second husband, Jerry Lokay and they married and together ran a vitamin store and gym. In 1971, Betty opened Crossroads to Health restaurant in San Mateo which she successfully operated until 1984. She stayed in the restaurant business a while longer, operating the cafeteria facilities at Gold Gate Fields Race Track. After retiring from the restaurant business, she devoted her time to working with a skin care product line. She moved with her daughter and son-in-law to Hayden, Idaho, in 1997.

Betty was always smiling, laughing and had a zest for life! She loved motorcycles (she even owned her own Vespa) and at 95 took her last motorcycle ride provided by Chery Cooper. Ken Holehouse, a family friend, also had occasionally taken her on rides on his Harley. She was known to many as The Motorcycle Mama!

Betty also enjoyed karaoke, meeting with the Rim Rock Ladies Club and the Red Hatters. Betty will most remembered as a sassy dresser, wearing beautiful hats, her bright lipstick and beautiful nails! She enjoyed lunch out at Beverly’s and various restaurants throughout town. Through slight health issues in the last few years, and even briefly being kidnapped as a child, her spirit has always been vibrant and healthy. “I just bounce back from anything that happens to me,” she has said. She attributed part of her longevity to eating healthy and good genes. Keeping a positive attitude was one secret to her long life. She smiled a lot, and followed her father’s advice to always find the good in people. She also remembered to enjoy life and to have a little fun.

Betty is survived by her only daughter, Ruth Ann and her son-in-law, Bud; her granddaughters and their spouses, Sandra Hinton and Mike Hinton, Andrea and Joe Anderson; and grandchildren, Richard and Ryan Manrique, Abigail, Miranda and Sophie Anderson; nieces Shirley Piatt, Sydney Reed and husband Carl, Beth Thomas and husband David, Miriam Khalsa, Ann Lokay and her nephew, Ben Hambleton and his wife Patty; as well as many great nieces and nephews. She also leaves dear friends Tina Kuhline and husband Mike, Sam and Elise Sweg; as well as many other dear and wonderful friends and loved ones throughout Idaho, California and Oregon. She also leaves her dog, Sami.

She was the last of her generation. She was preceded in death by parents Benjamin James and Nina Lee Franklin; her brothers, Harold Franklin and Orville Franklin; sisters Ruby Hambleton and Bethel Wilkins; and her niece, Robbin Bailey.