Betty Ann Nichols (Tenas) was born on September 23, 1947, to Thomas Tenas and Anna Rita (Andrew) Tenas in St. Ignatius, MT. Betty passed away on February 14, 2026, surrounded by her family at her home in Elmo, MT.

At a young age, Betty was sent to the Flandreau Indian School and was the school she graduated from. Despite her teachings from attending this school, Betty made it a goal to preserve the Ksanka/Ktunaxa language and culture. Betty worked for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Preservation Department as a Cultural Preservation Technician. In this position, she worked with Wain Lefthand in the Bob Marshall where they had to backpack and ride in on horses to survey and document cultural sites for two weeks at a time.

Betty also worked alongside her Auntie Louise Andrew, who was the crew boss, sister Alvina Tenas, Julia McDonald, and Glenda Burke as a fire fighter. The name of their firefighting crew was called the Broad Squad.

Betty married Richard Nichols. Through this marriage, Betty and Rick had two children. A son Richard Thomas Nichols, and a daughter Rachel Rae Nichols.

It was said that Betty and her sisters Alvina (Louise Andrew), Bernadine (Diane Auld) and Jan (Marie Stasso) each established a close relationship with one of their aunties. Betty and her aunt Mary Catherine Andrew formed a friendship, where they became inseparable and would often be seen joking around and exchanging the latest news and gossip.

Betty attained a close bond with her grandson Randy Nichols. Randy lived with Betty at her home in Elmo. In her final days, Randy became Betty’s caretaker.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Anna Rita, brothers: Randy, Tommy, Nate, and Ronnie, sisters: Doris and Alvina, son Richard Nichols, and grandson Sean Bigby.

Betty is survived by her daughter Rachel, grandchildren: Randy, Marshall, Jocelyn, Rydell, and Jada, and great grandchildren: Lily, Andrew, and Arlo, sisters: Bernadine, Janice, and Annette, and brothers: Frankie, Tim, and Vern along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral arrangements for Betty Nichols are as follows: Rosary on Monday, February 16, 2026, at The Lake Funeral Home at 8:00 pm, funeral service Tuesday February 17, 2026 at The Lake Funeral Home at 12:00 pm and burial will take place in Dayton, MT.

The family invites you to join them for a dinner at the Elmo Hall after burial.