Bettie Draeger

(From Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home)

Bettie L. Draeger, 89, of Carthage, Missouri, and formerly of Chetopa, passed away at 5:03 a.m., Monday, August 16, 2021, at the St. Luke’s Care Center, in Carthage.

Bettie Lou Sexton was born on June 25, 1932, at her family home in rural Chetopa, the fourth of seven siblings, born to James Andrew and Lulu Mae (Mayfield) Sexton. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in the Columbus area, graduating from Columbus High School in 1949.

On March 6, 1950, Bettie and Marvin Christz Draeger were united in marriage in Bella Vista, Arkansas. The couple farmed in the Chetopa area until their retirement in 2002. Marvin preceded her in death on December 9, 2013.

A committed Christian, Bettie was an active member of the First Christian Church of Chetopa and in earlier years, the Faulkner Christian Church in Faulkner until it closed. Bettie’s interests and hobbies included reading, fishing, making crafts, sewing clothes for herself and her daughters, making curtains and tablecloths for her home, crocheting, embroidery, going to movies, bowling, playing the piano, singing and playing bingo. Her greatest enjoyment came from spending time with her family. She loved to visit with friends and family and was willing to travel to see them. One of her most memorable trips was to Honolulu, Hawaii, with her daughter, Martha, where they celebrated Bettie’s 84th birthday.

Survivors include:

One daughter – Martha Lea Eiken and her husband, Donald “Don” Eiken, of Carthage, Missouri

Son-in-law – Ronald “Ron” Beecham of Columbus, Kansas

Granddaughters – Crystal Beal and her husband, Robert, of Ladonia, Texas

Barbara Jean Patchin of Carthage, Missouri

One grandson – Jeffrey Scott Tilton and his wife, Pornthip, of Bangkok, Thailand

One great-grandson – Darren Beal of Ladonia, Texas

Three great-granddaughters – Megan Bellamy and her husband, Jeremy, of Commerce, Texas; Bonnie Patchin of Carthage, Missouri; and Avalon Patchin of Carthage, Missouri

Two great-great-grandsons – Hendrix and Zepplin Bellamy of Commerce, Texas

Two sisters – Bertie Davis of Chetopa, Kansas; and Robina Garrett and her husband, Ivan Wayne “Butch” Garrett, of Welch, Oklahoma

Sister-in-law – Betty June Draeger of Kalispell, Montana

Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; daughter, Connie Lou Beecham; grandson, Robert James “Buddy” Beecham; brother, Howard Andrew “Bud” Sexton; sisters, Lois Sexton, Olive Parish, and Delores Clark; brothers-in-law, Arthur “Art” Parish, Jimmy Davis, Vernon Clark, Albert “Lee” Draeger, and Wesley Ray Ball; sisters-in-law, Karen Ball, Margaret Sexton and Janelle Allen; and nephew, Jim Parish.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 21, 2021, at the First Christian Church in Chetopa. Burial will follow at the Greenlawn Cemetery in rural Columbus. The family will receive friends from 7 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church of Chetopa. These may be left at or mailed to the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.