Betty Johnson 1935-2018

Betty Jean (Fitzgerald) Johnson, 82, of Nortonville, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at the Nortonville Christian Church, with the Rev. Bob Carter officiating. Family will receive friends from noon until service time at the church. Mrs. Johnson will be cremated following the service and burial will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation, Jefferson County Hospice and Old Town of Oskaloosa and may be sent in care of O’Trimble Funeral Home, P.O. Box 267, Nortonville, KS 66060. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com

Betty Jean was born on April 22, 1935, in Farmington to John and Mae Eva (Freeborn) Fitzgerald. Mae died in 1940 due to complications with pneumonia. John married Bessie V. Ward and together they raised Betty, her two brothers, John Fitzgerald Jr. and Charles Fitzgerald, and her stepbrother, Miles Murray. Betty graduated from Effingham High School (ACCHS) in 1953. She attended Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan. She wed Clifton Johnson on Aug. 1, 1954, at Farmington Christian Church. 

Betty worked for Atchison Daily Globe; the Naval Base in San Diego, Calif.; the Army Base at Fort Leavenworth; and Jefferson County North School District as a bus driver. Betty had many talents and hobbies including ceramics, quilting, sewing, upholstery, painting and gardening. 

Betty and Cliff raised eight children: Cheryl Sanders (Nortonville), Cindy Edwards (Nortonville), Patty and Roger Mosby (Horton), Brenda Foster (Nortonville), Bob Johnson (Nortonville), Mickey and Sheila Johnson (Nortonville), Liz and Edward Rostetter (Circleville) and Kathy Johnson (White Bear Lake, Minn.).

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Brenda; two granddaughters; and one grandson. She is survived by her husband, Clifton Johnson; seven children; 28 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren (soon to be five).

(PAID OBITUARY)