Betty M. Stewart

OBITUARY: Betty Marie Stewart
Betty Marie Stewart passed away Sun., March 13, 2011, at the age of 85. She was born Feb. 12, 1926, to Joseph "Tony" and Anna (Potthoff) Keeton. She married Fred W. Stewart on Sept. 4, 1948, at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Oskaloosa, KS. They were the 5th couple in their family to tie the knot there. Betty was a stay-at-home mom and her home was abundantly rich in love & caring. She was the daughter of an "Orphan Train Rider," and very proud of her mother (and an uncle) for traveling west as orphaned children who not only survived, but thrived, and raised fine families of their own. Betty was predeceased by her husband after 38 wonderful years of marriage; and by her sister Doris (Delmer) Smith, her brother Joe (Phyllis) Keeton, and her beloved Yorkie "Miss Lizzie." She is survived by her son Mike (Jane) Stewart, her daughter Connie (Paul) DiPasquale, two grandchildren Shane DiPasquale & Paula (David) Johnson, 3 great-grandchildren, numerous loving brothers & sisters-in-law, and nieces & nephews. Along with her husband she was a founding member of the Sundowners Camping Club, and the family spent many fun-filled vacations & weekends camping together at local Kansas lakes and also in Texas and Colorado. A life-long Topekan, she raised her family in North Topeka, and later moved to Oakland. She has resided for the last year at Brookside Community Retirement Center in Overbrook, Kansas, and was extremely grateful for the loving care she received there. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation (in Betty's name) to the Helping Hands Humane Society of Topeka, 2625 NW Rochester Road, Topeka, KS 66617 or Grace Hospice, 3715 SW 29th St., Ste 100, Topeka, KS 66614. Services will be at 1:00 PM, Fri., March 18, 2011, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave., Topeka. Interment in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, 3616 SW 6th, Topeka. Betty will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Thurs., at the funeral chapel where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.