Betty H. Stambaugh

Born: Betty Helen Thomas, March 23, 1928 in Monett, Missouri
Died: September 21, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Predeceased by:
• Burl Thomas (father)
• Ada Velina Thomas (mother)
• Billie Thomas (brother)
Survived by:
• James Thomas (brother)
• James P. Shue (son)
• Alan W. Shue (son, wife Linda Shue)
• Sharon L. Potts (daughter, husband Les Potts)
• Linda E. Barrett (daughter, husband Tim Barrett)
• Diana L. Rodriguez (daughter)
• Randell R. Shue (son, wife Nancy Shue)
• 12 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, 4 nephews, 1 niece
Betty grew up in Monett, Missouri with her older brother, Bill, and younger brother, James. Her early experiences were typical for someone living in a small town in the Midwest, mainly focused on school, church and family. She loved to play the accordion, ice skate, and dance, and it was on a dance date that she first met Luther Shue, a soldier and cook from nearby Camp Crowder. Love bloomed and they were married on Christmas Day, 1942.
Betty's first son, Jimmy was born in 1944 in Monett. They lived with Betty's parents while Luther was overseas helping in the fight to liberate France from the Nazis. When WWII ended and Luther returned, they moved to Henderson, Nevada, where Alan was born in 1946. Betty stayed home with the two young sons while Luther worked as a cook at the Golden Nugget hotel in Las Vegas. In 1950 Betty gave birth to twin daughters Sharon and Linda.
Betty and Luther homesteaded 5 acres in Paradise Valley, a desert area a few miles outside the Vegas city limits at the time. They saved up until they could afford to build a small concrete block house, with just a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, and move there in 1954. The hot Vegas summers were made tolerable by swamp coolers on the roof, and during the cool winter nights it was not unusual to find the four kids jockeying for space on the floor in front of an electric heater.
When Diana was born in 1955, Betty and Luther made plans to expand the house by adding a large living room with adjoining dining room and two more bedrooms. Again they saved up to avoid mortgage debt and built the addition using primarily their own labor and help from friends. A ping pong table in the new living room became the focus of family entertainment and nearly the only furnishing for a while, until Betty was able to convince Luther to spring for her dream set of Early American furniture.
Betty gave birth to her sixth and final child, Randy, in 1957. Her kids were always her treasure and she spent most of her time making sure they were well fed, well behaved and had an immaculately clean house to live in. Her son Alan's best friend, Henry Lindsay (who she considered her 7th child), often said her house was always clean enough to eat off the floor.
Betty was very outgoing and involved in a variety of activities to help her family and community, including Cub Scouts, Paradise Elementary School events, selling Avon and other products, and helping with the formation of the Paradise Valley Improvement Association with Luther, who later became the first Mayor of Paradise Valley. She supported Luther in the development of Paradise Valley Park, helping plant trees, taking admission at the park pool, and operating the pool concession stand. She also hosted and participated in events for the Las Vegas Culinary Union when Luther was president of it.
Betty and Luther divorced in 1965 and she supported herself as a waitress and hostess at a variety of Vegas hotels. In 1977 she married Chuck Stambaugh, a pit boss at Caesar's Palace. When Chuck died in 1987, Betty remained a widow for the rest of her life, devoting her time to her family, church, and many friends.
Betty was a charter member of the Las Vegas Women's Bowling Association, a founding member of Southern Nevada TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) in Las Vegas since 1961, and later a member of Red Hats.
Those who knew her best remember that she loved to read her Bible, had a sharp mind, and was a fierce competitor at board games. Her strong sense of identity was often a source of humor for close friends and family, who remember her frequent boasts of having basic common sense lacked by others and being an excellent driver with lightning fast reflexes. She will be missed by us all.

Visitation

Davis Memorial Chapel
6200 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV  89119
Sunday, September 25, 2016
5:00 - 7:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Davis Memorial Chapel
6200 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV  89119
Monday, September 26, 2016
2:00 PM