Billie Jenkins

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Billie Joan Jenkins, age 89, peacefully departed this life on Friday, November 7, 2025 at Solace House of Joplin.

Billie was born on December 14, 1935 in Minden, Nebraska to William and Sylvia Arnce. She had seven brothers and sisters, Bob, Don, Jeanie, George, Sylvia, Pauline and Ron, all except Ron have predeceased her. She was kept busy caring for them along with working at the family corner grocery store and cafe in Joplin. She attended Joplin public schools and graduated from Parkwood High School.

Billie also worked at Revival Fires Ministry for many years as Cecil Todd's assistant and then later at Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage. Her favorite job was being a wife, mother and grandmother.

She was a loyal and faithful member of College Heights Christian Church since it's inception and was known for her fantastic and creative table decorations for their Primetimers Club meetings.

Billie has always loved to dance and was a Hall of Fame member of the Tanglefooters Round Dance Club and could be found gracefully circling the dance floor every week with her husband and dance partner. Every Spring they planted a garden out back behind the house and family and friends (including the wild deer) enjoyed the delicious fruits of their labor. To this day there are still some canned tomatoes and green beans left but the supply is dwindling fast. In her younger days she loved taking cruises with her sisters, going to Branson and watching the music shows and visiting family in Oregon, Nebraska and Arizona.

She fell in love and married her soul mate, Kenneth R. Jenkins, on April 2, 1954 at the Atlas Christian Church and was happily married to him for 68 years until his death on June 15, 2022. They raised three wonderful children together in Duenweg, Michael Jenkins, John Jenkins and Michelle Carpenter. Sadly, Billie out lived two of her three children. Her precious daughter Michelle passed away in 2015, then her first born Michael was taken too soon in 2023, leaving only her son John to love and care for her in her last years. Billie's survivors include John Jenkins and wife Kim of Joplin, Missouri, daughter in law Deb Jenkins, granddaughter Amy Getz and husband Joe, grandson James Jenkins and wife Christie, and two grandchildren Harper Jenkins and Declan Jenkins, all of Omaha, Nebraska. Other survivors include her brother Ron Arnce and many nieces and nephews with whom she always stayed in contact with. 

Funeral Services will be at 2:00 PM Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Mason-Woodard Chapel, with Rick Bushnell officiating.

There will be a visitation beginning at 1:00 PM Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Mason-Woodard Chapel.

Burial will be at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin, Missouri.