Betty Lamke

Betty Joanne Lamke , 91 of Ignacio, Colorado passed on February 9, 2018 in Apache Junction, Arizona due to pneumonia complications with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Betty was born May 12, 1926 in Noblesville, Indiana to Herbert Tishner and Rachel (Goodnight) Tishner. Betty was the only child born to Herbert and Rachel. They moved to Colorado in 1929. Betty graduated from Pagosa Springs High School and later attended Adam State College in Alamosa, Colorado where she met her late husband Orville Lamke.

While growing up in Pagosa Springs, Betty worked at the Elk Horn Café, a coffee shop that her dad and mom owned. She so enjoyed talking and laughing with local friends and customers.

Betty enjoyed going on fishing trips taken to Mexico with her late husband, dad and mother. They all traveled to Apache Junction, Arizona where they stayed during late fall and winter months then returned back to Colorado in the spring.

During her life, Betty worked for Dr. Melcher at Animas Veterinary Clinic of Durango in the early 1980’s becoming Dr. Melcher’s right hand vet assistant. She began working for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in the HUD Rehab program. At the conclusion of the program, Betty was hired in the Finance Department where she worked for nearly twenty years before retiring. After retiring, Betty volunteered at the SUCAP Senior Center in Ignacio for a number of years, not only to help the organization, but to visit with her many friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her father Herbert Tishner, mother Rachel Tishner and husband Orville Lamke. Betty had no children, but truly made up as a caring mom for many pets adopted from the Humane Shelter. Those were her children in life!

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018 , 10 am at Hood Mortuary , 1261 East Third Avenue Durango, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the La Plata County Humane Shelter.