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Betty Lou Jenkins, age 93 of Lyndon, Kansas formerly of Butler, Missouri died Monday, October 28, 2024 at Advent Health in Ottawa, Kansas. She was the oldest child of Albert Bryan and Jessie Otis Heckadon Lacy, born February 28, 1931 in a farm house in Mound Township.
Betty lived with her family northeast of Passaic, Missouri, then in Passaic and on a farm south of Passaic. She and her sister walked to Passaic to school, either down Highway 71 or the railroad tracks. One evening when Betty and Fay were walking down the highway, they saw red flames coming from the roof of their home. They then moved to a farm east of Crescent Hill where she and her sisters attended school. Betty graduated from the 8th grade and attended Adrian High School
Betty worked as a waitress and grocery store clerk. She met Glen Jenkins and were married May 16, 1948 after she finished her Junior year of high school. They lived in Adrian a short time then moved to a farm in Mound Township and started a family, Kelly Glen, Sheila Marie and Kerry Dee. The family moved to the Ray farm up north in Deer Creek Township, then purchased the farm where they lived until her health declined.
Betty worked at MFA, Bass Busters in Amsterdam and then was the fee agent for Bates County License Bureau. In November 1981, she was elected the first Bates County Assessor on the Democratic ticket and served until September 1, 1997. Betty retired to be a full time housewife and grandmother which she was the best. Betty and Glen loved to travel. They have been to the 48 original states with their children and the Canadian Providences that border the United States. Later they traveled to Old Mexico and many trips to Branson, Missouri, always driving and never flying. Betty loved her family very much and enjoyed cooking Sunday dinner every week and then once a month. She spent her time watching The View and Dancing with the Stars, reading, doing puzzles and playing games on the computer.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Sheila Tumbleson of Ottawa, Kansas; a son, Kerry Jenkins and wife Julie of Panama City Beach, Florida; four grandchildren, Betty, Kelly, Tisha and Bobby; five siblings, Fay O’Riley of Adrian, Missouri, Alpha Courson of Coalgate, Oklahoma, June Talley, Bryan Lacy Jr and wife Judy and Bonnie Gillis all of Adrian, Missouri; and nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glen Oren Jenkins on October 19, 2011; and a son, Kelly Glen Jenkins in 1960.
