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Death notice
Liberty Lake - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Betty Jane (Neyland) Trembly on September 8th, 2024, after a short illness. Betty entered this world on January 28th, 1936, the third of three daughters to Homer and Della Neyland in Seattle, Washington. In 1940, the family moved east across the state to Liberty Lake where Homer had bought beach frontage which later became Sandy Beach Resort. Betty and her two sisters spent much of their childhood summers playing at the Liberty Lake Park, riding the carousel, playing the games, looking for empty bottles to turn in for money and joining the picnic food lines as though they belonged. Betty spent the remaining 84 years of her life in the community of Liberty Lake. Betty graduated from Central Valley High School in 1954. She then attended WSC (WSU) graduating in 1958 with a degree in elementary education. While at WSC, Betty accepted a blind date with a young Cougar baseball player from Kelso, Washington. She married Joe Trembly on September 7th, 1958. Little did she know that blind date would turn into 62 years of marriage filled with parenthood, friendships, sports, hard work in the family business and family. Their son, Joe Allen was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1959. Joe and Betty moved back to Liberty Lake to become partners in the family resort business with sister, Mary Floy and brother-in-law, Howard Dolphin, purchasing Sandy Beach Resort from their father and mother, Homer and Della Neyland. They ran the business together as a resort for 31 years eventually turning it into a mobile home park which still stands today. Possibly, McDonalds wasn't the first hamburger joint to fry a million burgers. On hot days the old flat top grill cooked burger after burger in the sweltering heat. Betty's glasses would become covered with hamburger grease as she slaved over the sizzling grill. A tough job when the rest of humanity was enjoying the cool water of Liberty Lake. One of the many memorable Betty incidents of the days working at the beach was watching her chase down a freeloader sneaking into the resort through the swimming area. Betty, in apron and dress would leave her station behind the grill and wade into the water to remind them they had to pay to swim there or get out. On Mother's Day Betty would pride herself on being the first person of the season to test the chilly waters of Liberty Lake fully clothed and with the snow still on Mica Peak! Joe started his teaching and coaching career at Freeman High School and later at University High School and Betty started her teaching career in the East Valley School District at Trentwood Elementary retiring in 1991, after 31 years of service. Her teaching friends remained lifelong friends and a big part of her life. Betty and Joe spent countless hours of proud parenthood following and supporting Joe Allen's CV football and baseball games along with his successful golfing career. Joe Allen later became a certified golf pro which was a great source of pride to his parents. Betty and Joe were lifelong WSU Cougar fans holding season tickets for years in both football and basketball. The Cougar flag still flies from their front porch. Betty and Joe led a very active social life surrounded by great lifelong friends from their teaching careers. They traveled to two Olympic Games, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976 and attended many National Athletic Director conferences with close friends Bill and Carol Ellis. They traveled for many years to White Fish, Heavenly Valley and Tahoe to ski with Joe's teaching staff from University. After Joe's death in 2019, Betty spent many fun filled hours watching her grand and great-grand nieces and nephews swim in her back yard pool and attending a multitude of their sporting and school activities. Betty continued her relationship with old friends but gathered a new group of friends from the Liberty Lake Athletic Club. She led the water aerobics class for seniors at 6:00 AM, three days a week. She loved the people in the pool, and they loved her. Another of Betty's favorite past times was spending time at the Northern Qwest Casino where she became a favorite of the staff there and honed the skills passed down by her father Homer. She was a lucky gambler who won more than she lost. Her most memorable line after returning home from the casino was "At least I didn't lose the farm"! One of Betty's enduring qualities was her ability to make people laugh. Betty never took herself too seriously and her contagious laugh in regard to something she did was hilarious. One of particular hilarity was a golfing trip to Scotland with friends where Betty was the designated driver of the ladies while the men golfed. One could imagine the laughter and chaos which ensued as Betty got behind the wheel driving on the wrong side of the road. Betty's son, Joe Allen and granddaughter, Taylor Noelle Trembly were a lifelong source of pride and love often traveling to the west side to be with them. Betty was a mother, teacher, sister, wife, grandmother, aunt and friend beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know her. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Della Neyland, sister, Mary Floy Dolphin, brother-in-law, Howard Dolphin, sister, Carol Jean Richardson, brother-in-law, Robert Richardson, and niece, Annette Strong. She is survived by her son, Joe Allen Trembly, Liberty Lake; granddaughter, Taylor Noelle Trembly, Federal Way, WA; nieces, Leslee (Jim) McLachlan, Denise (Tim) Coyle, Monica (John) Pappe, Marcia Stetner (Doug deceased); and many cousins and grand and great-nieces and nephews who loved and adored their Aunty Betty. A celebration of life for Betty will be held on October 13th, at Trailhead Golf Course, 22302 E. Country Vista, Liberty Lake, from 2-4 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cougar Athletic Fund, PO Box 641602, Pullman, WA 99164 or cougarathleticfund.com.
