Monty Lee Madsen Beatty passed away Aug. 26, 2013, at the age of 73. She was an amazing woman, friend to all and always reaching out to serve others. She leaves an enormous void in the lives of all who knew her.

Monty was born in Salt Lake City on May 21, 1940, to James Carl and Sarah Lorraine Bateman Madsen. Her father died when she was 9 years old and she determined then that she would “grow up to be a nurse and care for her daddy, while her mother remained at home to care for her sisters who would never grow up.”

At the age of 8, she showed a talent for the piano and took lessons until she graduated from high school. She studied briefly with the mother of Grant Johannesen. Much to the consternation of her mom and dad, she opted to enroll in the College of Nursing at Brigham Young University rather than accept a scholarship to Julliard. She excelled at nursing and worked most of her career as a medical-surgical nurse.

In 1968, she ran into an aspiring medical student who swept her off her feet. He departed for Jacksonville, Fla., to serve an internship, and she followed soon after. She married Hugh T. Beatty on Dec. 21, 1968, in Orange Park, Fla., and thereafter went with him about the country as he pursued a naval career. Together they retired in Oak Harbor in 1985 and enjoyed second careers with the Whidbey Playhouse where their considerable musical talents were put to good use in many productions.

She was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving many years with the young women’s program and for 17 years as an ordinance worker in the Seattle Temple. She taught seminary for four years and, for many years, taught regularly in Relief Society. For 40 years she was the organist in church.

Monty is survived by her husband of 45 years, Terry; four children, D’Le Aunne Beatty-Tobias of Jocotopec, Mexico, Todd Dean Beatty (Donna) of Afton, Wyo., Tyrrell Van Beatty (Tiffany) of Kirkland, Wash. and Michelle Rivers (Rich) of Gricignano, Italy. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, one great-granddaughter (born on Monty’s birthday in 2013) and two sisters, Michal Chapman and Dalene Loder, both of Spokane. She was preceded in death by her parents and by one sister, Lynne Marie Lybbert.

Services for Monty will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oak Harbor with visitation from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bishop Reed Hopper will officiate. Burial will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Monty suggests donations can be made to the Arthritis Foundation Washington, 115 NE 100th St. Suite 350, Seattle, WA 98125.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home. Family and friends are encouraged to offer condolences and share stories in the Book of Memories hosted on their website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com