Betty Jean Barker who went home peacefully, to the Kingdom of God on July 20th, 2015- “If you’re about to throw away your red
lipstick, stop,!” We have been blessed to have learned valuable,
life-long lessons from Betty. Among them are: red lipstick is best,
to love fiercely, that our friends were her friends too, to always have
a good dinner, to keep your mind and body active by reading daily, and traveling lots, what a davenport is, that homemade food is the best, and that you are better than to eat off of paper plates, to
entertain often, to speak your mind even when your opinion might not be the most popular in the room at that time, to climb into the lives of those you love, how to play patty-cake, that a glass of wine daily is good for you, family first, that giving is better than receiving, to say “beg you pardon” when you don’t understand, and “yes please”, in addition to “ I Love you” , to call your loved ones often, to laugh and to cry hard, to never go to bed mad, and to sing your heart out. But most importantly, to trust in our Heavenly Father to lead the way, even through life’s trying times.
At 91, her legacy will continue to be emulated by her two beloved, surviving sons: Gene and Ron Mueller, 4 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild.
Betty was born on April 9, 1924 to Ire and Lela Barthalow in Mount Pierre, Iowa. She was the youngest of 4 children. She went to Ottumwa High School in Iowa, then moved to California in 1946.
In 1985, she retired from being a file room manager for an insurance
company in California, remarried and moved to Sidney, Canada.
While she has left behind an enormous amount of family and friends who have loved her (and whom she loved even more), we are thankful that she can now be with all of those whom she had loved and lost over her long and love-filled life.
She will be greatly missed, but now has a new room in the kingdom: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my father’s house there are many rooms…….” Thank you Lord for the new life she has with you. We have been blessed to call her mom, grandma, great grandma, great-great grandma, sister, daughter and friend!