Obituary for Betty Klusmeyer

Betty Klusmeyer

January 29, 1929 – October 26, 2019

Betty Jane (Call) Klusmeyer died Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 8:48 a.m. at Via Christi Village, Ponca City, OK at the age of 90 years, 8 months, 28 days. She was born January 29, 1929 to David Elmer and Anna Elizabeth (Helmick) Call one mile west and one mile north of Waunetta, Chautauqua County, KS. She attended various grade schools in Chautauqua and Cowley counties with a majority of those spent at Bethel Hall located ½ mile south of her grandparents, Joseph Arnold and Keturah Ann (Coon) Call’s farm, where she lived with her parents and two brothers. She graduated with the Cedar Vale (KS) High School Class of 1947.

After graduation, she worked as a nurse’s aide at William Newton Memorial Hospital, Winfield, KS and Hays Hospital, Cedar Vale, KS. While employed at WNMH, she met Carl Monroe Klusmeyer who had moved to Winfield from Binger, OK. in 1946 after serving in the US Army during World War II. The couple was engaged November 9th, 1948 and Betty, so excited to show her ring to her friends, slammed her hand (and the ring) in the car door. The couple was married December 25, 1948 in the home of her parents NW of Cedar Vale on the Mills ranch. Carl was employed at Jack Lane Chevrolet in Winfield until moving to Tonkawa, OK in July, 1949 to work for Ray Hamlin’s Chevrolet garage. They moved to Blackwell, OK in 1950 when the dealership moved there.

Their son, Stephen Ray was born April 17, 1950 and their daughter, Carla Jane was born May 25, 1952. Betty worked for a brief time at Ball & Ball Riverside Hospital in Blackwell but thought the kids were too young for her to be away. (Not to mention the babysitter charged more than she earned working.) In February, 1955 they moved from their home at 938 N. 8th, Blackwell, to their home east of Blackwell where they converted the original one-room Prairie Chapel school house built in 1929 into the home where they resided until March, 2001 when Betty moved to Urban Village in Blackwell.

Betty was employed at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City, OK from September, 1965 until her retirement in January, 1991. She worked as a nurse’s aide and ward clerk before attending Pioneer Area Vo-Tech for Unit Coordinators, graduating in May, 1989.

Betty was a long-time member of the Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church east of Blackwell near their home. Although she could no longer attend services, she enjoyed the visits, newsletters, and visits from members of her church family.

In addition to her children, grandchildren and extended family, she enjoyed country music, old barns, windmills, genealogy, especially for the Klusmeyer family, for which she did extensive research, copying, and sharing with family. Aunt Betty was the go-to gal for most questions (and pictures) about the Klusmeyer family. She also enjoyed her CVHS class reunions, the Klusmeyer family reunions, and other family reunions that were held. Her home was filled with photograph albums that Carl, and after his death, she took of their families, friends, barns, windmills, sunsets, and many other travels and outings.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Carl Monroe Klusmeyer, in 1992; her parents, David Elmer and Anna Elizabeth (Helmick) Call; brother, Harold Dean Call; daughter-in-law, Brenda Sue (Gordon) Klusmeyer; and great-grandson, CJ Magner.

She is survived by her brother, Bill Call; sisters-in-law, Jo Call, Gladys Brown, Shirley Klusmeyer, Mildred Isbell, and Delores McNair; son, Stephen (Sharla Rhea) Klusmeyer; daughter, Carla (Jerry) Magner; grandchildren, Michael (Keyna) Magner, Crystal (Tommy) Bowman, Tamra Magner, Caleb (Brigitte) Klusmeyer; great-grandchildren, Cody Magner, Garrett Johns, Brett (Briley) Magner, Aaron Johns, Hunter Bowman, Cade Klusmeyer, and Raymond Klusmeyer; great-great grandchildren, Tailyn Magner, Aceyn Magner, and Brynley Magner; special friends, Jamie Levingston, Caitlyn Marshall, Stacy Willoughby, Kathy Gillespie, Deana Walter, Tim and Lynn Urban; countless other priceless cousins, nephews, nieces, dear friends, neighbors, and loving caregivers at Via Christi Village and Hospice of North Central Oklahoma.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 29th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel in Blackwell with Rev. Kevin Bookout of First Free Will Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park in Ponca City.

Casketbearers will be Michael Magner, Caleb Klusmeyer, Cody Magner, Garrett Johns, Brett Magner, Aaron Johns and Hunter Bowman. The grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews will serve as honorary casketbearers.

A memorial has been established in her honor with Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church or Hospice of North Central Oklahoma in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.