Christian Biography of Betty M. (Willhoite) Thompson



Betty M. (Willhoite) Thompson, the only child of Donald and Hilda Willhoite Willhoite, was born on May 9, 1922 in Dwight, Nebraska, . She passed away on February 10, 2014 at Lakewood, Colorado at the age of 91 years, 9 months, 1 days.

She grew up in Superior, Nebraska, graduating from Superior High School in the class of 1940. Betty attended Doane College in Crete before transferring to the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she received a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1944 and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.Her business career included seven years as editor of Panhandle Lines, the employee magazine of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company in Kansas City, Missouri, and a 15-year stint as Manager of the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce in Liberty, Missouri.

She was also a reporter, photographer, and columnist for the Liberty Tribune and the Excelsior Springs Daily Standard.Betty was a 50-year resident of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, and a member of its First United Methodist Church, before moving to Denver, Colorado in 2007. She was President of the Excelsior Springs Board of Education (1979) and was elected to two board terms. She also served on the Liberty Public School District Foundation Board. Betty was the first woman inducted into the Liberty Rotary Club and was a 1985 recipient of the Service to Mankind Award from the Liberty Sertoma Club. She was also a well-known leader in Clay County Republican politics for over 40 years.

Betty was honored as Woman of the Year and presented a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 by the Clay County Republican Central Committee. She received the Delta Delta Delta Sorority's Circle Degree in 1994 in recognition of 50 years of membership. Betty was also a 30-year member of Chapter CJ of the P.E.O. sisterhood and a long-time member of Monday Coterie. She leaves behind many good friends, relatives, and colleagues who loved her dearly and are grateful to have shared her life.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, Stuart A. Thompson, and by her parents, Donald Landon Willhoite and Hilda Sabata Willhoite.

She is survived by her son, Stuart Andrew Thompson, Jr., and his wife, Cynthia Hilb of Denver, Colorado; her daughter, Jane Ellen Thompson and her husband, Dennis Hall of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; her cousin, Rob Sabata of Bella Vista, Arkansas; her devoted niece, Julie Gladden of Englewood, Colorado, and five nieces and nephews living in Arizona, California, and Kansas.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. Jocelyn Tupper officiating.

Music was a congregational hymn, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee", special music was "Going Home" from Antonin Dvorak's New World Symphony, "It Is Well With My Soul," and "The Lord's Prayer," solos by Rob Sabata and congregational hymn "Battle Hymn of the Republic," with Carlita Price as organist.

Visitation was held on Saturday from 9:00 am till services at the funeral home.

Pallbearers were Dennis Hall, Proctor Ritchie, Rodney Rounkles and Joe Hultquist.

Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery at Superior, Nebraska.

Memorials are suggested to go to Memorials suggested to the First United Methodist Church, 1650 Rainbow Blvd., Excelsior Springs, MO, 64024 or the Republican Party at any level

Condolences may be sent to Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N Commercial, Superior, Nebraska 68978 or in care of www.pricefuneralhomes.com.

Megrue-Price Funeral Home of Superior, Nebraska was in charge of the arrangements.