Betty Annette Nelson

Betty Nelson of Skidmore transitioned to claim her eternal crown on July 26, 2024, at her home,
surrounded by family. She was truly a classy lady. Most people remember Betty for her
signature smile, extraordinary cakes, leadership in the church and community, and phenomenal
work ethic.
Betty was born in 1940 in Kansas City to the late Eldon and Vera Williams. She started
kindergarten in Kansas City. When her family moved to the Maryville area in 1946, she was
halfway through kindergarten. Although she did not finish kindergarten, it did not dampen her
academic achievements. After attending the Rockford School west of Maryville for three years,
Betty commuted to the Maryville Public Schools and earned a high school diploma in 1958.
During high school, Betty was a popular cheerleader and excelled in academics as well as
leadership in numerous organizations. Betty was named as the very first Miss Maryville High
School. At that time, it was an elite honor based upon leadership, service to school and
community, and scholarship. She went on to attend and graduate from Northwest Missouri State
University with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education in 1961. As an
undergraduate student, Betty designed the winning kitchen design for the at that time new
Mable Cook Home Economics Center learning laboratory.
She married Lloyd Nelson on June 9, 1963, and dedicated 61 years to building a farm and
family through faith. Both Lloyd and Betty taught school at Washington Middle School. Betty
taught home economics while Lloyd taught algebra, science, and industrial engineering
technology. The first two years after marriage, Betty and Lloyd spent the summers in Greeley,
Colorado where both earned M.A. degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. Betty
always jokingly said that Lloyd didn't know she couldn't cook until 8 weeks after their wedding
as they lived in student housing and dined at the cafeteria while attending graduate school.
She served as a Home Economics teacher at Maryville R-II Schools from 1961-1968. Betty also
served as the president of the alumni chapter of the Home Economics club at NWMSU and
secretary and treasurer of Kappa Omicron Phi, an honorary home economics fraternity. She
was the president of the Nodaway County Home Economics Association from 1963 to 1965.
Betty was a jack-of-all-trades around the diversified crop and livestock farm that included hogs,
cattle, horses, and chickens at her & Lloyd's home farm in Skidmore. Serving as a farm office
manager, truck driver, veterinarian, tractor driver, and mother of four children while operating a
successful catering business from 1969 to 2004. She could rake hay, haul a load of hogs to
market during the week and on the weekends set up the most beautiful wedding, birthday,
anniversary, or celebration cakes with spectacular designs.
Betty served the MU Extension service as a 4-H project leader in sewing, food preparation, cake
decorating and numerous areas from the 1970's through 2001. Without hesitation, Betty always
donated beautiful and delicious cakes to charitable organizations and events. There were
numerous times that someone couldn't afford a lovely cake for a special occasion. Mom would
simply reply with a smile "don't worry about it" just to see the joy from a young child or couple.
She served as organ and piano accompanist at the Skidmore Christian Church for over 40
years and was frequently on call to provide music at funerals. Betty was a natural organizer and
filled numerous positions of teaching and/or coordinating Vacation Bible School, Skidmore
News, Christmas programs, Mother's Day Banquets and almost any type of special occasion at
the Skidmore Christian Church and cooperative activities with community churches.
As a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, PEO, the Gill Club, Eastern Star, Town
& Country Saddle Club and Community Betterment, Betty was always "on the go" and the "go
to" person for writing skits, poems, programs and coordinating events for numerous community
organizations. In Eastern Star, Betty filled all of the line offices and served as District Deputy
Grand Matron.
In 1975 and 1976, Betty helped add liveliness and fun to Skidmore's recreation picture by
serving as a committee member for the "Root Diggin' Days." It was a mini celebration which
included fun for the young and the old with historical displays, soap making, weaving and
contests such as tug of war, baled hay tossing, wheelbarrow racing, dancing and pumpkin pie
eating contests.
Betty was one of the committee members representing Skidmore in 1976 when America
celebrated its bicentennial. She was instrumental in designing the 1776 themed outfits and float
to represent Skidmore in the area parades. Betty helped arrange for Skidmore to be
represented in the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage.
When the Skidmore Community prepared for its Centennial Celebration in 1980, Betty was one
of 16 committee members who gathered biographical information about families, churches,
businesses and organizations to publish a Skidmore History book. In the heydays of the
Skidmore Punkin' Show, Betty served as a committee member for several different events.
Journalism and writing were natural skills for Betty. She had gained practical research and
writing experience at Maryville High School when she served as the assistant editor of Girls'
State newspaper, student body secretary, co-editor of the Hi-Lights, NHS and Quill and Scroll
and earned top honors in the state feature writing contest. Opal Eckert of Maryville was a very
influential professional in influencing Betty's knowledge, skills and aptitudes for writing and
publishing good quality media. When the Skidmore News needed a co-editor, Betty stepped up
to the challenge. The monthly routine of contacting advertisers, gathering news of interest
about families in the Skidmore area, fitting everything to the pages and folding the finished
product became a family and neighborhood activity.
Betty's service to the youth, younger teachers and college graduates has always focused on
setting a positive example and striving for excellence in grammar, research, and continuous
improvement of personal skills. Betty's inner glow and spirit was infectious to everyone she met
through the years of helping prepare course materials for the Maryville R-II Industrial
Technology Department where her husband, Lloyd, taught.
Betty never said "No" when it came to assisting with 4-H and Scout projects for members
throughout Nodaway and the surrounding counties. Betty's generosity and genuine kindness in
sharing her time and knowledge over the years related to cake decorating, baking, canning,
sewing, and mentoring truly came from her heart.
Betty loved to travel. A stroke in the early 2000's slowed her down, but it didn't keep her from
visiting various locations from Florida to Alaska and California to New York. We were blessed to
spend over 20 years with her after the stroke. During this time, 15 grandchildren and 1 great
grandchild were born, and she was able to celebrate over 60 years of marriage to her husband,
Lloyd.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Beverly Williams Gardner. She is
survived by her husband, Lloyd; brother, Larry (Susan) Williams of Lenexa, KS; four children,
Kyle (Karla) Nelson of Stewartsville, Kayla (Robert) Holscher of Palestine, IL, Kelly (Teak)
Nelson of Kirksville, and Karlene (Dustin) Jenkins of Skidmore. Also surviving are 15
grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, July 30th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Price Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 31st at 10:00am at the Skidmore Christian Church under the care of Price Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Nodaway Memorial Gardens in Maryville.
Memorials Skidmore Christian Church, 106 N. Orchard Street, Skidmore, Missouri 64487, Tri City Friendship Center, 208 S. 2nd Street, Maitland, Missouri 64466 or the Nodaway County 4-H Extension Council, 403 North Market Street, Rm.308, Maryville, Missouri 64468.
www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com