Betty LEMKE Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Betty LEMKE
Start: 2022-08-12T19:15:00.000Z
Location: Woodland Mausoleum

LEMKE, Betty D.

Born in 1923, owner of The Mad Hatter Costume Shoppe and the House of Magic in Dayton, Ohio, peacefully passed away November 16, 2021, at home surrounded by love. This feisty Leo who was perpetually late to all engagements, never saw a garage/estate sale she didn't stop at, and was fueled by coffee with heavy whipping cream and pastries, will be celebrated on what would be her 99th birthday! This beauty could play piano by ear and paint a portrait by heart. She lived her life with immense compassion for children and animals. She was preceded in death by her cherished daughter Cherry Hunt and her beloved husband Fred Lemke Jr. She is held in sweet memories by her children: Ann Fensel, John Miller II, and Aimee Mummey (Mark). Her grandchildren and spouses: Trina Merrit (Roger), Eddie Harmon (Dana), Lori Pulliam (Steve), Dino Hunt, Fred Hunt (Jamie), Mitzi Swan (Jye), Eric Miller, and Alexandra, Ava, and Anna Cherie Millard, and her 12 great-grandchildren whom she adored! All are welcome to join her family in honoring this charming child of the Great Depression who grew up to be the beloved matriarch of her family. Celebration of life will be on August 12, 2022, at 3:15. Woodland Mausoleum, 118 Woodland Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45409.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Dayton Daily News on Aug. 9, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Betty LEMKE

4 Entries

Nancy Roe Eyerly

August 11, 2022

My sisters and I remember our Aunt Betty as a strong, beautiful, talented woman. There are many things about her that impressed us. She was a successful business woman. Her ability to play the piano by ear was amazing! She kept in touch with us after our father's (her brother's) death. She took time to write about our father so we would have some memories to keep alive. And she took time to patiently answer my many questions. What a blessing!

It's wonderful to know she was with her loved ones until her last day. We will cherish our memories and miss her very much!

Kathleen (Roe) Studebaker and Nancy (Roe) Eyerly

August 10, 2022

To Honor Aunt Betty:
Despite having worked at corporate Hallmark, the true importance of a greeting card escaped me (Kathleen) until my mother died in 2008. When I sat down to read all the sympathy cards, I had a new appreciation of how my mother had touched the lives of others. And with that came further confirmation that my mother was a lovely woman. And I felt so lucky. So now when someone who has touched my life dies, I want to make sure the loved ones they left behind know how lucky they were.
When Nancy and I sat down to remember Aunt Betty, we remembered her big, beautiful smile and the twinkle in her eyes. To us, she will always be our pretty Aunt Betty.
A few years ago, Ann organized a Roe reunion of sorts, here in SW Missouri. Many of our Roe relatives were telling Nancy she resembled Aunt Betty. Nancy shared that this family resemblance and connection warms her.
Once, when Aunt Betty visited, Nancy sat down and played a song on the piano. Not knowing the song previously, Aunt Betty sat down and played the same song. Even though she played in a different key and didn´t hit all the notes the same as Nancy had, the song was recognizable. Aunt Betty´s talent was awe inspiring and this act left quite an impression. Another activity that Aunt Betty and Nancy both enjoyed is sewing. Also impressive is that Aunt Betty managed to run a successful business: the costume shop and magic shop near the university in Dayton. Years ago, Nancy had the opportunity to visit her there and see her shop.
One thing we have always appreciated is that Aunt Betty made an effort to visit us when we were children. The connection to our father´s family was somewhat broken and Aunt Betty gave us a lifeline to our Roe side. Aunt Betty handwrote a five-page letter to us about our father. She gave of her time to sit down with Nancy and answer some questions we had about our father. What impressed Nancy was Aunt Betty´s patience and willingness to answer difficult and sometimes painful questions.
I (Kathleen) am so glad I visited Aunt Betty in 2016. It was fun looking through the family history research books I had put together. She seemed so happy, even though she was suffering memory loss. Aimee was doing such a wonderful job of taking care of her.
May you find comfort in the memories.
We miss her, too.

August 8, 2022
Kathleen (Roe) Studebaker
Nancy (Roe) Eyerly and
Jeannette (Roe) Westbay (she would have felt the same)

Lisa & Mark Jones

August 10, 2022

This is a incredible life that was well lived. Betty was truly a woman who loved her family and shared her love and talents in with so many people. Her zest for living is found in her many life accomplishments. Her legacy will live on in all the hearts she touched.

Mark Mummey

August 9, 2022

We miss you, Betty! I will always be grateful for getting to know you and for the for the time that we all got to spend together as a family! I love you!

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