MAASS, Betty Jane

Betty Maass, 82, longtime resident of Granite, died peacefully at her home on Aug. 21, 2006, after a long battle with lung cancer. She was born Betty Jane Smith in Brown's Valley, Minnesota on Nov. 10, 1923. She was brought up on the family farm and learned to be a jack-of-all-trades; sewing, crocheting, carpentry, roofing, fishing and hunting were second nature to her. She was a speed typist and collector of manual typewriters. Always athletic, Betty was an expert horseback rider. She once rode her horse bareback at a full gallop and saved a friend from a charging bull by expertly grabbing her arm and swinging her up behind her as Betty rode by. She was an ice fisherman and figure skater, practicing her skills at Twin Lakes during the winters. Before moving to Granite 34 years ago, Betty had lived in Germany, Wyoming, Illinois, California, Texas, Washington, Kansas, Tennessee, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Colorado Springs. Betty loved living in the mountains of Colorado. She was an avid fisherman and hunter. She caught one of the largest Mackinaw trout ever taken from Twin Lakes. She was also a card player, pool shark and prankster. No one who knew Betty will ever forget the sparkle in her beautiful clear blue eyes when she flashed her movie star smile. Betty is survived by her husband, Capt. (ret.) Walter J. (Moe) Maass of Granite; son, James R. Potter and daughter-in-law, Nancy K. Reed of Cotopaxi; grandson, Jackson A. Potter; and granddaughter, Aimee K. Potter, both of Chicago; and brother, Francis (Pete) Smith of Pierre, S.D. A son, Michael A. Potter, and parents, Francis and Mary Smith, preceded Betty in death. Chaffee County Times