Betty J. Graves

Betty June Graves, 79, Greenleaf, died Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Linn Nursing Home in Linn, after a courageous battle with cancer.
 
Visitation was Monday, May 27, 2024, from 1 to 8 p.m. at  Ward Funeral Home in Washington.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
 
A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at the Washington Christian Church, Washington. Pastor Eli Sweeney officiated.  Gay Lynn Manning was the organist, and music included "How Great Thou Art," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "One Day at a Time."

Pallbearers were Nathan Schuessler, Victor Graves, Leo Meadows, Seth Bonar, Preston Bonar, and Jeff Terrell.

Burial followed in the Greenleaf City Cemetery, Greenleaf, KS.

Betty was born September 27, 1944, at her grandmother’s home in Barnes, KS, to Meyril and Elizabeth (Oatney) Hildebrandt.  She attended school at South Dane, a small country school, until the 3rd grade, when they moved to Greenleaf.  She attended school in Greenleaf until her junior year.  Betty went on to receive her GED.

On September 10, 1961, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Merlin Graves.  This union was blessed with three children, Kimberly, Bradley, and Brian.  Betty was a member of the Washington Christian Church, sang in the choir, and was a member of the Coterie.

As a teenager, she worked for the Swirly Top in Washington.  After she had children, she was a homemaker until the children were older.  Betty worked as a home health aide through SRS, doing various home chores for the elderly.   She also helped at Gambino’s Pizza, doing countless number of dishes, until completely retiring in 2019.

Betty and Merlin loved to travel and planned yearly vacations.   They enjoyed the numerous bus tours they went on and loved going to the movies.  After Merlin’s death in 2007, her son Brian would accompany her to these places.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Merlin; brothers, Verlin Hildebrandt, Norman Hildebrandt, Richard Hildebrandt; sisters, Bonnie Meadows, and Evelyn Hildebrandt; and daughter-in-law, Melanie Graves.

Survivors include her children, Kimberly (Mike) Schuessler, Bradley (Bev) Graves and Brian Graves; brother, Vernon (Billie) Hildebrandt; and grandchildren, Stephanie Bonar (Jeff), Lindsay Schuessler (Iwan), Megan Schuessler, Nathan (Amber) Schuessler and Victor (Brittany) Graves; great grandchildren, Seth, Preston and Tristan Bonar, Olivia Terrell, Raymond, Kai, Shylin and Zander Sastro, Paxton, Oakley and Oliver Schuessler and numerous nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

A memorial fund is established to the Washington Christian Church or Meadowlark Hospice.  Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington, KS.