Betty Jo Murto

January 22, 1923 – May 12, 2017

A Memorial Mass of Intention will be held for Betty Jo Murto, 94, of Coos Bay, on Saturday, June 17th at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 2250 16th Street in North Bend. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. A private family graveside committal will take place on Tuesday, May 30th at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Betty Jo was born on January 22, 1923 in Woodburn, Oregon to Joseph Otterstrom and Margaret ( Schwede ) Otterstrom. She passed away peacefully on May 12, 2017 in Coos Bay due to complications of a stroke.

Betty Jo attended St. Benedict’s Catholic School in Woodburn and graduated from Woodburn High School, class of 1941. She was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Woodburn. In 1943 she married Benny E. Murto…..she thought he was a great dancer! Benny passed away in 1991. During WWII Betty Jo worked for the US Navy at the Navy Auxillary Air Station in North Bend.

Betty Jo was a resident of North Bend for 74 years. She was a homemaker and mother of 4 children. She loved to travel and during her lifetime went to such places as Italy, Israel, France, Canada, Holland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. She and Ben also traveled to many of the 50 US States in their RV.

Betty Jo was a Cub Scout den mother, a member of the Bangor Elementary PTA, Girl Scout leader, member of the North Bend Garden Club, member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and a former member of the Coos Bay Eagles. She loved to cook and was a great baker. Her advice to her daughter, as a new bride, was to “Keep your cookie jar filled!”

Betty Jo is survived by her son, Mike Murto and his wife, Robin, of Dundee; son, Ken Murto and his wife, Karen, of West Linn; son, Pat Murto and his wife, Debbie, of North Bend; daughter, Carol Swift and her husband, Ken, of Reedsport; grandchildren, Kyle and Hailey Murto and Joel, Brian and Darin Swift; great-grandchldren, Nali, Ben, Sam and Mason Swift; and two step-grandchldren.

Betty Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Margaret Otterstrom; and her husband Bernard “Ben” Murto.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

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