Betty--You were always hanging in there no matter what!! Your warmth and tenaciousness made you a standout figure in our groups--never to be shut out--never to be silenced--never to be without a kind thought --never to hold back an opinion--always with warmth :) "Big Al" as you called me.

Dear Betty, Your magic was that you always made me feel like I was really the most important person in the world when we met. Your warmth and vibrant spirit were infectious. Your enthusiasm made it seem that you were at least as young as the rest of us. I couldn't believe a "mom" could be as young at heart. If I could have picked a mom she would have been like you. When I think of you, your life inspires me to let go of a lot of self-consciousness and just go with what's happening regardless. I'm going to keep your picture on my alter at home to remind me of all the possibilities if one isn't caught by a fear of being judged. Thank you, Betty, for always "going for it." Kathy Haimson

Obituary for Betty (Saling) Devine Normandin Betty was born as Elizabeth Jean Saling on Christmas day 1919 in Kalispell, MT, which is a small town and gateway to Glacier National Park, and the largest natural lake in Montana, Flathead Lake. She had two elder brothers Bert and Henry, and a younger brother Bill. Her father owned the Chevrolet car dealership in town. In the 30’s they had a houseboat on Flathead Lake where she and her family and friends spent many happy days. After graduating from Flathead High she travelled by train to enroll in Carlton College, a highly regarded small liberal arts college in Minneapolis. After two years there she transferred to Washington State University in Pullman, because she wanted a more typical American college life experience. At Pullman she majored in Music, and sorority life. She was member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and stayed involved its activities for the remainder of her life. At Washington State she fell in love with Ken Devine who was well known on campus as the captain of the All American Washington State football team, student body president, and president of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He supported himself through college and the School of Veterinary Medicine part-time work and football scholarships. After graduating with a teaching credential she spent a year teaching school in Yakima Washington, while Ken finished Vet school. When Ken graduated as Dr. Devine, he began serving in the Vet Corps. of the US Army. Betty and Ken married in June, 1943. They were stationed at several Army bases in the US, and during that time their first son, David, was born in 1944. From 1945-46 Ken was stationed in India with the Army, and Betty returned to Kalispell to live with her parents and take care of David. After WWII and Ken’s discharge from the Army they moved to California, first to La Fayette for a year and then to San Jose. Ken opened his first vet hospital and the next year their second son, Doug was born. They spent busy years in the late 40’s early 50’s raising the two boys, building the vet practice, and being active in community affairs. In 1954 Cora Older (the Widow of crusading San Francisco Call Bulletin newspaper editor Fremont Older) invited them to live with her at her large home in the Saratoga Hills. That estate is now preserved as the Fremont Older Open Space District Park. They lived there for a year, but decided to move to a new Eichler home in San Jose for the birth of their third son Duff in 1955. Mrs. Older was very fond of the family, and Ken and Betty were one of only three parties to whom she sold property from her 350acre estate. They built their house on Prospect Road in 1956. Betty loved living in that house with 5 acres, a swimming pool, and horse stable. She lived there till the age of 82. Tragically Ken died of a cerebral aneurism at the age of 39 in 1957. Betty was grief stricken, but after a year regained some of her infectious and adventurous curiosity. She enrolled in San Jose State College and took courses to renew her California Teachers Credential. She then took her three sons to live in Mexico for four months while she pondered whether to remarry. When she returned she married Irv Normandin, who owned Normandin’s Chrysler dealership in San Jose. She lived at her Prospect Rd. home with Irv and her sons till her sons had all graduated from high school. For one year while David was a high school senior, she invited another “son,” Gerdi Eisenburger who was an Austrian foreign exchange student, to live with the family. Betty and Irv were divorced after 11 years. Then, once again her unquenchable sense of adventure and curiosity was ignited, and Betty began to follow a path of self discovery and personal growth more than ever. She became enthusiastic about her art and art therapy, as well as psychotherapy. She completed an M.A. degree at Santa Clara University in special education followed by several years of teaching. She also opened her home to guests from all over the world. She was a Universal Life minister and performed hundreds of weddings at her beautiful Saratoga home. She developed her own personal philosophy of life and spirituality which she described as “pagan.” By this she meant that all seekers of God were holy, and that all religions provided guidance to connecting with a Higher Power. In 2001 her health declined and she moved to the Villages in East San Jose. There she spent 10 years actively involved with new and old friends. She hosted the Poetry Group, and the Piano Group for weekly meetings in her home. She sang with the Village Voices choir and the Villages Church choir for as long as she could. Unfortunately, however, her mental faculties began a steep decline several years ago, and in June 2011 she moved into the memory care section of the Regency assisted living community near the Villages. There she repeated her usual and lifelong pattern of befriending and caring about the other residents and staff. They commented on how she was always upbeat and helpful. She told her family that she had found a new job taking care of the other residents who needed her help—she would always try to connect with them and cheer them up whenever she could. During her last year she also became re-connected with her Christian upbringing and voiced a re-commitment to the Christian faith. Her final job concluded on February 2, 2012 when she fell in her bathroom after awakening from her afternoon nap. She struck her head sustaining a fatal brain injury. She was in a coma for 8 days until succumbing peacefully on February 10th. May she rest in peace and may her surviving family and friends cherish the many moments of love and generosity she shared with us.