Betty Jean Bates of Wellington, Kansas and lifelong resident of Sumner County, died December 20, 2022 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita, Kansas.
Betty was born the daughter of William Wolf and Olga Helena (Welsch) Wolf on June 17, 1927 on the farm near Portland, Kansas. She grew up on the farm and attended grade school at Portland and graduated from the South Haven High School. Betty worked as a bookkeeper for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. On March 28, 1948, Easter Sunday, Betty Jean Wolf and Roy Bates were united in marriage at the home of her eldest brother in South Haven, Kansas. Together they celebrated over 64 years of marriage. To this union four children were born. Roy and Betty started this life together on a farm Northwest of Wellington and continued farming. She was an active member in the Church of the Nazarene in Clearwater, Kansas for 29 years. During that time she taught the young married peoples class, served on the Church Board and Church Treasurer for 28 years, Missionary President and Missionary Zone Chairman of the South Central District of the Kansas Church of the Nazarene for 12 years. Betty’s children were her pride and joy. She was a compassionate and devoted mother and wand wanted the very best for them. She balanced being a farmers wife and the activities of swimming lessons, singing, piano, library books, church, and 4-H. Betty was Community Leader of the Clippers 4-H Club. She loved crafts and doing oil paintings, cooking, and gardening was a must for her. Betty was also a member of the 20th Century Book Club. She is survived by daughter, Dixie Stevens and her husband Brad of Phoenix, Arizona; son, William A. Bates of Wellington, Kansas; daughter, Brenda Jean Glendenning and her husband Allen of Great Bend, Kansas; daughter, Christine Baker and her husband Barry of Haysville, Kansas; grandchildren: Jason Stevens, Zacariah Stevens, Cameron Glendenning (Courtney), Douglas Glendenning, Mitchell Baker, and Jacqueline Baker; and great-children: Cody Stevens, Grayson Paul, Addy Paul, and Mackenzie Glendenning; sister, Earlene Strickland. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roy A. Bates; brothers: William Wolf Jr., Evert Wolf, Herman Wolf, infant brother Otto Wolf; sisters: Ottis King, Lorraine Taylor, and Nadine Rinehart. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, December 26, 2022 with the family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services for Betty will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at the Church of the Nazarene, Wellington, Kansas. Interment will follow at the Sumner Memorial Gardens, Wellington, Kansas. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in her loving memory with the Avenue of Flags.
Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home. Share a memory, leave condolences, or sign her digital tribute wall at www.comejofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington, Kansas 67152.
