Betty Nelson of Skidmore transitioned to claim her eternal crown on July 26, 2024, at her home,

surrounded by family. She was truly a classy lady. Most people remember Betty for her

signature smile, extraordinary cakes, leadership in the church and community, and phenomenal

work ethic.

Betty was born in 1940 in Kansas City to the late Eldon and Vera Williams. She started

kindergarten in Kansas City. When her family moved to the Maryville area in 1946, she was

halfway through kindergarten. Although she did not finish kindergarten, it did not dampen her

academic achievements. After attending the Rockford School west of Maryville for three years,

Betty commuted to the Maryville Public Schools and earned a high school diploma in 1958.

During high school, Betty was a popular cheerleader and excelled in academics as well as

leadership in numerous organizations. Betty was named as the very first Miss Maryville High

School. At that time, it was an elite honor based upon leadership, service to school and

community, and scholarship. She went on to attend and graduate from Northwest Missouri State

University with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education in 1961. As an

undergraduate student, Betty designed the winning kitchen design for the at that time new

Mable Cook Home Economics Center learning laboratory.

She married Lloyd Nelson on June 9, 1963, and dedicated 61 years to building a farm and

family through faith. Both Lloyd and Betty taught school at Washington Middle School. Betty

taught home economics while Lloyd taught algebra, science, and industrial engineering

technology. The first two years after marriage, Betty and Lloyd spent the summers in Greeley,

Colorado where both earned M.A. degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. Betty

always jokingly said that Lloyd didn't know she couldn't cook until 8 weeks after their wedding

as they lived in student housing and dined at the cafeteria while attending graduate school.

She served as a Home Economics teacher at Maryville R-II Schools from 1961-1968. Betty also

served as the president of the alumni chapter of the Home Economics club at NWMSU and

secretary and treasurer of Kappa Omicron Phi, an honorary home economics fraternity.  She

was the president of the Nodaway County Home Economics Association from 1963 to 1965.

Betty was a jack-of-all-trades around the diversified crop and livestock farm that included hogs,

cattle, horses, and chickens at her & Lloyd's home farm in Skidmore. Serving as a farm office

manager, truck driver, veterinarian, tractor driver, and mother of four children while operating a

successful catering business from 1969 to 2004.  She could rake hay, haul a load of hogs to

market during the week and on the weekends set up the most beautiful wedding, birthday,

anniversary, or celebration cakes with spectacular designs.

Betty served the MU Extension service as a 4-H project leader in sewing, food preparation, cake

decorating and numerous areas from the 1970's through 2001. Without hesitation, Betty always

donated beautiful and delicious cakes to charitable organizations and events. There were

numerous times that someone couldn't afford a lovely cake for a special occasion. Mom would

simply reply with a smile "don't worry about it" just to see the joy from a young child or couple.

She served as organ and piano accompanist at the Skidmore Christian Church for over 40

years and was frequently on call to provide music at funerals.  Betty was a natural organizer and

filled numerous positions of teaching and/or coordinating Vacation Bible School, Skidmore

News, Christmas programs, Mother's Day Banquets and almost any type of special occasion at

the Skidmore Christian Church and cooperative activities with community churches.

As a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, PEO, the Gill Club, Eastern Star, Town

& Country Saddle Club and Community Betterment, Betty was always "on the go" and the "go

to" person for writing skits, poems, programs and coordinating events for numerous community

organizations.  In Eastern Star, Betty filled all of the line offices and served as District Deputy

Grand Matron.

In 1975 and 1976, Betty helped add liveliness and fun to Skidmore's recreation picture by

serving as a committee member for the "Root Diggin' Days."  It was a mini celebration which

included fun for the young and the old with historical displays, soap making, weaving and

contests such as tug of war, baled hay tossing, wheelbarrow racing, dancing and pumpkin pie

eating contests.

Betty was one of the committee members representing Skidmore in 1976 when America

celebrated its bicentennial.  She was instrumental in designing the 1776 themed outfits and float

to represent Skidmore in the area parades.  Betty helped arrange for Skidmore to be

represented in the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage.

When the Skidmore Community prepared for its Centennial Celebration in 1980, Betty was one

of 16 committee members who gathered biographical information about families, churches,

businesses and organizations to publish a Skidmore History book.  In the heydays of the

Skidmore Punkin' Show, Betty served as a committee member for several different events.

Journalism and writing were natural skills for Betty.  She had gained practical research and

writing experience at Maryville High School when she served as the assistant editor of Girls'

State newspaper, student body secretary, co-editor of the Hi-Lights, NHS and Quill and Scroll

and earned top honors in the state feature writing contest.  Opal Eckert of Maryville was a very

influential professional in influencing Betty's knowledge, skills and aptitudes for writing and

publishing good quality media.  When the Skidmore News needed a co-editor, Betty stepped up

to the challenge.  The monthly routine of contacting advertisers, gathering news of interest

about families in the Skidmore area, fitting everything to the pages and folding the finished

product became a family and neighborhood activity.

Betty's service to the youth, younger teachers and college graduates has always focused on

setting a positive example and striving for excellence in grammar, research, and continuous

improvement of personal skills.  Betty's inner glow and spirit was infectious to everyone she met

through the years of helping prepare course materials for the Maryville R-II Industrial

Technology Department where her husband, Lloyd, taught.

Betty never said "No" when it came to assisting with 4-H and Scout projects for members

throughout Nodaway and the surrounding counties. Betty's generosity and genuine kindness in

sharing her time and knowledge over the years related to cake decorating, baking, canning,

sewing, and mentoring truly came from her heart.

Betty loved to travel. A stroke in the early 2000's slowed her down, but it didn't keep her from

visiting various locations from Florida to Alaska and California to New York. We were blessed to

spend over 20 years with her after the stroke. During this time, 15 grandchildren and 1 great

grandchild were born, and she was able to celebrate over 60 years of marriage to her husband,

Lloyd.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Beverly Williams Gardner. She is

survived by her husband, Lloyd; brother, Larry (Susan) Williams of Lenexa, KS; four children,

Kyle (Karla) Nelson of Stewartsville, Kayla (Robert) Holscher of Palestine, IL, Kelly (Teak)

Nelson of Kirksville, and Karlene (Dustin) Jenkins of Skidmore. Also surviving are 15

grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, July 30th  from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Price Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 31st at 10:00am at the Skidmore Christian Church under the care of Price Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Nodaway Memorial Gardens in Maryville.

Memorials Skidmore Christian Church, 106 N. Orchard Street, Skidmore, Missouri 64487, Tri City Friendship Center, 208 S. 2nd Street, Maitland, Missouri 64466 or the Nodaway County 4-H Extension Council, 403 North Market Street, Rm.308, Maryville, Missouri 64468.

www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com