Lila Marie Behrends Botone, Lawrence

Mrs. Botone died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.

She was born July 1, 1921, in Coffeyville, the daughter of William Pearle and Magdalena Rhynearson Royer.

She received a bachelor’s degree in science and education in 1942 from Pittsburg State University and a master’s degree in social welfare from the University of Oklahoma.

She and her second husband operated Rainbow Appaloosa Horse Ranch for 30 years outside Cortez, Colo. She worked as a social worker for more than 20 years and then as a teacher from 1969 to 1985.

She was a life member of the Southwestern Cowbells, a former member of the Sleeping Ute Mountain Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a current member of the Betty Washington NSDAR in Lawrence. She was also a member of Job’s Daughters, Cortez Emblem Club No. 261, Yucca Temple No. 74 and Lelia Chapter No. 50 of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She married Lawrence Behrends on Oct. 5, 1941 in Joplin, Mo. He died Sept. 21, 1958. She married Delos L. Botone on Dec. 31, 1967, in Billings, Mont. He died July 20, 1996.

She is survived by three nieces and three nephews, including Linda Royer Hyler, Lawrence.

The family suggests memorials to the United Methodist Church Building Fund, American Diabetes Assn. or the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, which is handling arrangements.