Betty May Bartley, 89, passed away August 7, 2023, at Clay Center. She was born December 19, 1933, in Gillingham, Wisconsin, to Clarence Herbert Berry and Mary Marie (Deckert) Berry. Betty was united in marriage to LeRoy Eugene Bartley on May 30, 1951, in Gillingham, Wisconsin. They made their home in rural Miltonvale, KS. While LeRoy served in the military, they relocated to California where Betty worked in laundry on the military base.
Upon returning to Kansas, they made their home in rural Miltonvale, then Oakhill. Betty assisted LeRoy with farmwork and livestock. The two of them routinely took cream to Miltonvale on Saturday afternoon to sell and purchase groceries. Betty raised chickens for eggs and fryers. Betty loved cooking and baking for family, friends, and anyone who needed a meal. She was an active church member where she taught Sunday school, Bible school, and cared for children in the nursery. After Betty and LeRoy moved to Clay Center in 1978, she worked at the IGA bakery, had a large strawberry patch that they shared with family and friends and deer, then cooked at Clay County Child Care. It was important to her that the children knew “Grandma Betty” cared for them. Betty was a breast cancer survivor. She was a prayer warrior.
Survivors include husband, LeRoy. Children Elgena (Mike) Smith, Bob (Yvonne) Bartley, Judy (Mark) Cook, and Rex Bartley. Grandchildren Dana (Chad) Plunkett, Suzanne Smith and Jimmy White, Bartley (Courtney) Smith, Lindsay (Jason) Moore, Michael Cook, Enona (Jim) Buster, Heather (Giovanni) Gardina, Steven Cook and Nicole Corby. Great grandchildren Christina Cook, Jaxson Cook, Kaley Blissett, Kaleb Cook, Josh Gardina, Zacharee Cook, Courtney Cook, Colton Cook, Ryker Smith, Emra Buster, Baylyn Smith, Connor Cook, Thane Buster, London Gardina, Lucas Gardina. Sisters Carol (Paul) Sainsbury, Judy Klingaman, Karen (LaMon) Hornby.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a granddaughter, Diana Lee Cook, great granddaughter, Leighton Sue Moore, brothers, Dwight Berry, Reverend Donald Berry, and Dale Berry. Sisters Donna Lou Berry, Virginia Ann Stolpa, Shirley Jo Boggs, Patty Jane Davis.
Funeral Services: Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Clay Center, KS.
The service will live stream on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nsrfuneralhome
Minister: Reverend Jon Henderson
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center, Kansas
Visitation: Wednesday, August 9, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home
Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church Clay Center or Clay County Headstart c/o the funeral home