Graveside memorial services for Betse Derrington will be 2:00 PM Saturday, June 21, 2014 in Sharon Cemetery near Drexel, Missouri with Rev. Marc Magna officiating. Visitation will be prior to services, from 1:00 until departure for cemetery at Mullinax Funeral Home – Drexel Chapel, Drexel, Missouri. Betse was passionate about caring for animals; memorial contributions are suggested to the Dogwood Animal Shelter in Osage Beach, Missouri; the ALS Association; or Muscular Dystrophy Association. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Olive
Elizabeth Westhoff-Derrington, “Betse,” was born February 12, 1948 in
the home of her maternal grandparents on Holmes road near Drexel,
Missouri. She died June 18, 2014 in Camdenton, Missouri after a
prolonged fight with a debilitating, progressive neurologic disease
called Machado Josephs Disease that was inherited from her father’s side
of the family. The illness had previously taken her father,
grandfather, many aunts, uncles and cousins.
She
was an extraordinary woman full of life and love for all. Everyone she
met was touched by her sparkling personality. She was a 1966 graduate of
Drexel High School. She worked for many years with her husband as a
Family Nurse Practitioner in Overland Park, Kansas before retiring to
the Lake of the Ozarks in 1996. Once at the lake she became active in
the Dogwood Animal Shelter and served as the president of the auxiliary
for several years, had her own radio show for the shelter called “Ask
Rover,” was president of the Lake Road 7-9 Fireflies auxiliary for the
fire department and owned her own antique shop before being forced to
retire because of her progressive illness.
She
was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her husband
Kenneth L. Derrington, her mother Eloise Westhoff, her brother John
Westhoff and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is planned at the Camdenton Methodist Church in Camdenton, Missouri in mid-July.
