Betty Donaldson

Funeral Celebration of Life Services for Betty Donaldson, 91, of Lenox, who passed away Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Lenox Care Center will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25 at the Lenox United Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Interment will be held at the North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Memorials may be given in Betty’s name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox where we ‘Celebrate Life’.

Betty Lou Brown Donaldson was born Jan. 31, 1932, the daughter of Ruby Hancock Brown and Orville Brown, on a farm south of Sharpsburg. She was called to be with her Savior March 13, 2023. Betty’s first year of school was in Sharpsburg before the family transferred to the consolidated school in Conway. At age 13, the family moved to a farm northwest of Sharpsburg where she attended Grove Country School, only one mile from her home. Later, she returned to the Sharpsburg Community School where she enjoyed playing basketball and participating in school plays. She graduated with the class of 1950.

During her sophomore year, she noticed a tall handsome man named Donald with whom she fell in love. The couple dated for four years before marrying on Nov. 14, 1951. The Korean War was in progress, and when returning from their honeymoon, they were greeted with a letter from the federal government requiring Donald to report for his military physical for the armed forces.

The couple had obtained employment at Clarinda Mental Health, and in April, Donald reported to the Marines, while Betty continued working in the office until he finished basic training. They were fortunate to spend time together in California before Don was assigned to Japan. Don was able to return to the states two days before their first child, Craig, was born.

After Don’s military service, the couple returned to Sharpsburg to begin farming with Don’s father. They loved the farm life and Betty enjoyed being a devoted farmwife, except when the pigs would get out and destroy her garden or lawn. During this time, they completed their family when son, John, and daughter, Donette, were born.

Betty also worked off the farm as a bank teller in Sharpsburg and Gravity. She learned insurance from Spencer Peck, and later assisted Bill Johnston in Bedford and Tom Bender in Lenox. She also dabbled with real estate. Don and Betty enjoyed traveling and were fortunate to visit several countries. In 2007, after living on a farm for 43 years, they retired in Lenox.

At the age of 12, Betty accepted Christ as her Savior. She was baptized in a pond east of Sharpsburg. She handled adversity with God’s promise, which assisted her with John’s accident and the realization we are not in control. She did not take things for granted but continued to trust in God. Her motto was “don’t sweat the small things.” She was raised in a Christian family and belonged to the Sharpsburg Presbyterian Church. For many years she would not serve as an elder because she felt she was not worthy.

Betty loved her family and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She is survived by her son, Craig (Rebecca) Donaldson of Lenox; daughter, Donette (David) Bish of Troy, Alabama; daughter-in-law, Sandra (Jere) Ferguson of Lenox; granddaughters: Deanna (Quentin) Kuhns, Chelsie (Dan) Zech, Emalie (James) Hogan and Caroline Bish; grandson, Samuel Donaldson; great-grandchildren: Lucey and Rubey Zech, Noah and Neela Kuhns and Isabelle Hogan; her sister, Jean Fitzgerald of Lenox; brother, Robert (Judy) Brown of Goodyear, Arizona, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald of 63 years; son, John; her parents, Orville and Ruby; Don’s parents, Robert and Mildred; sister, Vie Guess, and Ruth and Dorothy as infants; brothers, Orville Jr. and Harlan; brothers-in-law, Richard Guess, Richard Fitzgerald and Brad Daggett and sisters-in-law, Janette Daggett and Zelma Brown.

We will forever hold the precious memory of Betty in our hearts.

May she be at peace in God’s loving care.