Betty Rae Crandall was born in Buhl, Idaho, to Raymond Morell “Ray” Crandall (1906-2000) and Nellie Katherine Woodward Crandall (1911-2021). The oldest of six, Betty grew up with her five brothers, Floyd, Bert, Larry, Steve and Donald (Doc), in Idaho; Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Gunnison, Colorado. Betty’s life was a testament to compassion, perseverance, and a deep love for the world of nursing. Her journey into nursing began at the age of six when she visited her father recovering from an appendectomy in a hospital built from native logs in Jackson Hole. The pristine white walls, the scent of ether, and the nurses in crisp white uniforms left an indelible impression on her young heart. By age 10, Betty was captivated by the white uniforms she saw in the Montgomery Ward catalog. In high school, she researched and wrote extensively about military corps for women, narrowly missing the opportunity to join the Cadet Nurse Corps, which was discontinued at the end of World War II.
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