Aug. 20, 1938 - Jul. 27, 2026
Date of Service: Aug. 11, 2026
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RUPERT – Monday, July 27, 2026, Betty L. Stepp, age 87, of Rupert, Idaho, was welcomed into Heaven by her Lord and Savior. She passed peacefully at Avista Senior Living in Twin Falls and entered eternal life.
Betty was born on August 20, 1938, in Jonesboro, Texas, to John ‘Woody’ Gilman and Matilda ‘Tildy’ Gilman. She was the youngest of four children.
During her school years, Betty developed a love for basketball and played on her high school team. Her enthusiasm for the game remained throughout her life, and even into her seventies she still enjoyed picking up a basketball and shooting a few hoops.
Betty met the love of her life, Robert ‘Bob’ C. Stepp, while working as a carhop in Gatesville, Texas, during her senior year of high school. Bob, who was serving in the U.S. Army, made several special trips to see her. Just 32 days after they met, they eloped on August 31, 1955.
Although her history teacher and basketball coach encouraged her to finish high school before marrying, Betty chose to begin her new life with Bob in Fort Worth, where he had found employment. Even after marrying, she remained committed to her education and proudly graduated with her class later that same year.
After Bob was laid off from General Dynamics for the third time, Bob, Betty and their daughter moved to Idaho in 1959, with only $32 to their name to join Bob’s brother, Albert Stepp, in search of new opportunities. Through faith, determination, and hard work, they built a life and a family grounded in love, perseverance, and Christian values. After moving to Idaho they added to their family another daughter and a son.
Betty was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was deeply involved in her children’s lives, faithfully supporting them and attending their activities whenever possible.
She was blessed with many talents and especially enjoyed working with her hands. While living in Fort Worth, she learned the art of candy making and hand-dipping chocolates while working at Pangburn’s Candy Company. Her homemade chocolates became well known throughout the Mini-Cassia area, and she generously shared her knowledge by teaching candy-making seminars and chocolate-dipping demonstrations.
Betty also loved participating in county fairs, where she proudly entered her hand-dipped chocolates, homemade rolls, canned goods and other homemade goods. Her exceptional talents earned her countless blue ribbons over the years, reflecting both her skill and the pride she took in everything she made.
She also enjoyed crocheting, gardening, and creating handmade gifts for those she loved. In recent years, she completed a special project of making alpaca pillows for each of her great-grandchildren. Bob and Betty enjoyed many camping trips together and many trips to Texas.
Betty worked alongside her husband and family in farming, sharing in both the challenges and rewards of rural life. She also worked in the Minidoka County lunch program, serving children in her community. Betty retired after 20 years as a line supervisor for the Idaho Potato Inspection, where she worked with dedication and pride.
She was active at the Minidoka County Senior Center, where she enjoyed the fellowship, friendships, and activities. She was also active in the Rupert Methodist Church and, before moving to Rupert 25 years ago, attended the Paul Methodist Church.
Betty’s warm personality, quick wit, and joyful spirit endeared her to everyone who knew her. She found humor in everyday life and had a remarkable ability to make others laugh.
One favorite family story occurred when she walked into the kitchen, stopped, looked around, and announced, “I’m going to the hereafter.” When someone asked what she meant, she smiled and replied, “I walked into the kitchen and can’t remember what I came here after!” That playful sense of humor remained with her throughout her life.
Later, when Parkinson’s required her to use a walker, Betty simply added it to her comedy routine. She affectionately named her walker ‘Tildy’ after her mother, and enjoyed her nick name the grandkids gave to her as “Hip-Hop Grandma.” Even while facing the challenges of Macular degeneration and Parkinson’s disease, she continued to smile, laugh, and help others do the same.
Betty will be remembered for her unwavering faith, positive outlook, generous heart, and contagious sense of humor. She loved her family beyond measure, welcomed everyone with kindness, and never met a stranger for long. To many people, she wasn’t simply Betty—she was ‘Mom.’ She loved being called ‘Mom,’ whether by family, friends, neighbors, or anyone whose life she touched, and she had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel like part of her family.
Her life reflected a sincere Christian faith that guided her through every season of life.
While her family grieves her passing, they rejoice knowing that Betty’s faith has become sight. She has been reunited with loved ones who went before her and now rests in the presence of the Savior she faithfully served.
Her legacy of faith, love, generosity, laughter, and devotion to family will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Betty is survived by her brother, John ‘Snooks’ Gilman of Jonesboro, Texas; her daughters, and sons-in-law, Donna (Roger) Kruger of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Connie (Peter) Griffin of Pocatello, Idaho, and her son, Larry Stepp of Rupert, Idaho.
She is also survived by six grandchildren: Brian Kruger, Brandon Kruger, Dana Vineyard, Darren Wolters, Priscilla Huffman, and Alaina Phillips; and eight great-grandchildren: Ava and Cash Kruger, Olivia and Addison Vineyard, Shelby Runcorn, Hazel Huffman, Lainey and Jolene Phillips.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Robert C. Stepp; her brother, Darwin Gilman and sister, Winifred Ramsey; and her beloved granddaughter, Brenda Wolters.
We would like to thank Avista Senior Living and Auburn Crest Hospice for their loving care. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the Minidoka County Senior Center.
Urn placement will take place prior to the service at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11th, at Paul Cemetery, located at 550 W. 100 N. in Paul, Idaho, anyone is welcome to attend.
A Celebration of Life will be held following the urn placement at 12 noon, Tuesday, Aug. 11th, at the Rupert United Methodist Church, located at 605 H. Street, in Rupert, with Rev. Dr. Desi Larson officiating.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hansen Mortuary of Rupert.
A live webcast of the memorial service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/bo8CaSr1TqY.
