In Memory
Kay Montgomery​
Kay Montgomery, one of PWS original members, worked primarily with transparent watercolor, but also used acrylics, inks, fabric dyes, collage and gemstones, as well as pastels and colored pencil.
Montgomery was a native of Idaho, born in the desert county of southwestern Idaho and grew up on a ranch in that area. She spent one year at Boise University before joining the Navy WAVES. After being discharged from the service, she attended Concord College, Virginia; Duke University, North Carolina; Washington State University and the University of Idaho. She lived on a small farm just west of Moscow where she and her husband raised four daughters.
Kay displayed her award-winning work in many shows throughout the Northwest and participated in many solo and group shows. Her paintings are in permanent collections throughout the United States and Canada and her fiber artworks are in permanent collections of the First Bank of Troy, Idaho National Bank, Boise, and UI Student Union Building.
Nick Bode
Nick Bode moved with his family to Moscow, Idaho in 1960. He, along with his brothers, was a co-owner of the Garden Lounge. He began painting watercolor while in high school and studied art at the University of Idaho.
Upon retirement in 2002, Nick said that he ‘rediscovered watercolor.’ As a member of PWS, Nick was the driving force behind many of the group’s successful ventures including traveling shows, exhibitions, and juried competitions. His ambition was to make Moscow known for its art and, in particular; watercolor. He loved painting with other artists at the studio in his home as well as organizing plein air outings.
Betty Benson
The Idaho Watercolor Society and the Benson family honor Betty Benson for her contribution to Idaho arts.
A drive to Betty and Jim’s rural, hilltop acreage near Moscow leads to an iris-lined road with a home bordered by colorful perennial flowers, vegetable gardens, and an orchard. Betty masterfully cooked and baked with the vegetables and fruits, otherwise preserving them or sharing them with fortunate friends. Her art was influenced by what she and Jim grew as well as by her travels to Africa, France, Scandinavia and Scotland. Her work was accepted in many juried shows and selected for awards.
Betty was influential in bringing change to all the organizations in which she held membership. She was instrumental in the development of the Pend Oreille Arts Council in Sandpoint and a non-profit arts commission in Moscow. Betty was a commissioner on the Idaho Arts Commission, and served for two years as an Idaho State Senator. She was a past president of Palouse Watercolor Socius, a regional representative of the Idaho Watercolor Society, and a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society.
A conversation with Betty would have quickly established that her primary interests were her beloved husband, Jim, her sons, Tim and James, her daughter, Krisila, her daughter-in-law, Susie, and her granddaughters, Megan and Jenna.
Betty’s accomplishments came about even as she dealt with difficulties in her own life. Despite a two-story fall while building their home, difficult surgeries and recovery, and working through several bouts of cancer and treatments, she persevered and thrived. We honor her determination and the large contribution and the impact of her life.
Flip Kleffner
Flip enjoyed drawing all his life. He said that it started with pencil, pen and ink, and charcoal. Flip’s father, Sib, was a fine artist and both of his parents encouraged him with his art. When he retired from the Alumni Office at the University of Idaho, he began to paint with watercolors with the help of Alf Dunn and then with Linda Wallace.
Flip said,
“Art has had special significance in all the history of mankind and that holds true even today. Painting is something like giving back; you absorb life and then give part of it back through drawing and painting. Art begins to help you see the beauty in all things and the artist, poet, and musician then attempts to return that beauty in an art form.
All of us have some artistic instinct within us and we can begin to show it if we choose--give it a try.
Art and watercolor paintings are something that anyone could do with work and using their imagination. Art is fun and is to be enjoyed by the artist and the viewer.”
