Bettie Batt

Bettie Batt, daughter of Harry and Margareth (Tiemann) Geis, was born

October 5, 1926 in Okeene, Oklahoma. She accepted Jesus Christ as her

personal Lord and Savior and was baptized at the age of 12 at Zion Baptist

Church, Okeene, OK.

Bettie attended school and graduated as Salutatorian from Okeene High

School in 1944. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Baylor

University, Waco, Texas, for two years. During the summer of 1946, Bettie

married Dean C. Batt, who had been discharged from the Army, and they both

went on to attend the University of Kansas. Bettie graduated with a Bachelor

of Science degree and taught school in Vinland, KS, and LeCompton, KS,

while Dean attended Law School. Bettie and Dean were married almost 65

years.

In 1949, Bettie and Dean moved to Marion where she continued her teaching

career at Lincolnville High School, Marion Junior High, and Center High

School. Since these were post-war years, and there was a shortage of Home

Demonstration Agents, she filled that position until Shelley, their only child,

was born in 1953.

Bettie was very active in the Marion community serving as President of the

School Board, Girl-Scout Leader, and Precinct Chair of the Republican Party in

Marion County. She was also a member of Coterie Club, PEO, and very

interested in the progress of the community.

Bettie enjoyed estate sales, collecting antique dishes, and Hummel figurines.

She and Dean traveled in the United States and abroad, and enjoyed continual

learning by attending Elderhostels.

The Church had a very special place in Bettie’s heart, where she served as

Sunday-School teacher, youth leader, and United Methodist Women’s officer.

Bettie really enjoyed her experience as church-expansion chair in 1998.

Bettie received special enjoyment from entertaining in her home and from

spending time with her grandchildren. She was a loving caregiver to her

parents who were in her care for six years. Both lived into their late nineties.

Bettie was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brother Duane Geis,

her nephews Greg and Paul Geis, her niece Ann Batt Howard, her cousin Millie

Friesen, and her son-in-law Paul Wiest. Surviving are her daughter Shelley

(Mel) Hett of Oklahoma City, her granddaughter Avery Archambo (Ryan

Whisler) of the Washington DC area, her grandson Brady Archambo (Natalie)

of Austin, TX, her great-granddaughter Kaia Archambo of Austin, TX, and her

great-granddaughter Liana Archambo of Austin, TX. Other family survivors are

the children of her first-cousin Millie Friesen, especially Marilyn Friesen Fast

(Ken) of Hillsboro, KS, Steve Friesen (Bobbie) of Newton, KS, Debbie Friesen

Phillips (Bill) of Rockwall, TX, and Grace Steele (Eldon) of Tyler, TX. Also

surviving are Alice Geis Johnson of Longview, TX, Cindy Batt Goertz of

Winfield, KS, and Candy Batt Pettey (Tom) of Winfield, KS, and granddogs

Rizzo, Willow, and Presto.

Memorials may be directed to Gideons International or to the Eastmoor United Methodist Church in care of the Yazel Megli Funeral Home.