Obituary for Betty Janssen-Dimond

Betty Janssen-Dimond

June 7, 1933 – April 6, 2019

Betty Janssen-Dimond
A Patchwork Quilt

Patch 1 – Early Life

Betty Joan Janssen (Worrell) was born to Wilbur and Hilda Worrell on June 7, 1933 in Hutchinson, KS. During her early years Betty, and her older brother John, helped with the family dry-cleaning business. Betty moved with her family to Wichita just before her senior year in high school where she graduated from Wichita East High School. After graduation she moved to Lyons, Kansas, where she worked as an operator for the telephone company.

Patch 2 – Married Life

While in Lyons, Betty met Harry Janssen, a tall, lanky basketball player, at Hutchinson Junior College. Betty and Harry were married on August 22, 1954, while Harry was a chemical engineering student at the University of Kansas. After Harry graduated from KU they moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma where Harry had accepted a position with the Process Engineering Department at Continental Oil Company. Betty and Harry set up housekeeping at 1712 Hudson Drive, in “The Home of Tomorrow” (Ponca News April 22, 1958). Betty, Harry, and family spent seven years in Lake Charles from 1960 to 1967 before returning to Ponca City. Betty and Harry enjoyed 46 years of marriage raising a family and traveling for work and pleasure until Harry’s death in September 2000.

Patch 3 – Motherhood

Betty and Harry had two children; Paula, born in 1957 and Allen, born in 1959. Betty was always actively involved in both children’s activities at school and church She served as a homeroom mother during the kid’s grade school years and was a Sunday school teacher during their formative years and many years thereafter.
Betty is survived by Paula and her husband, Randy McDaniel of Edmond, OK, and their children and grandchildren; and by Allen and his wife, Teresa Donich, of Columbia Falls, MT.

Patch 4 – Interests

Betty picked up sewing, making many of her daughter’s clothes. She became known in sewing circles as an accomplished seamstress. Her sewing interest prompted her and Harry to purchase and operate, with friends Bill and Deanna Weisenborn, The Treadle Fabric and Sewing Shop in Ponca City. They operated the store for six years from 1976 until 1982. Betty also enjoyed other needlecraft including cross-stitch and quilting.

Few can duplicate the flaky, delicate pie crusts that Betty created; a skill she learned from her mother-in-law and passed down to her daughter. Betty was known throughout her circles for her pies, particularly cherry.

Many friends, family, and acquaintances have enjoyed the fruits of her sewing, needlework, quilting, and baking labors.

Patch 5 – Grandma Betty

Betty had the privilege of being very involved in the lives of her granddaughters: Molli McDaniel, Meg McDaniel Dick (Colby), Maddie McDaniel Reese (Isaac) and Mackenzie McDaniel Scheer (Brady). Though she mourned the death of Molli, who died at 15 months in 1982, she continued to enjoy the lives and activities of the other girls, providing music lessons and instruments and attending many of their numerous activities. She was also able to celebrate the lives of six great-grandchildren: Miller Dick (8), Janssen Dick (6), Frank Reese (4) Rendel Dick (4), Ruby Reese (8 mo), and Howard Dick (6 mo) all of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Patch 6 – The Dimond Patch

On January 25, 2014 Betty and John “Pete” Dimond were married at First Lutheran Church in Ponca City. During their five years together Betty and Pete enjoyed dancing, eating out at many of Ponca City’s fine restaurants, and treks to Manhattan, Kansas, to root on the Wildcats at Pete’s alma mater, Kansas State University.

Padding – Friends

Betty never met a stranger and loved people well! This love is evidenced by the many friendships that she made and nurtured throughout her life. Across the U.S., across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe, and across the Pacific Ocean to Japan her friendships spanned her life and spanned the globe.

Stitching and Binding – Faith

As a long-time member of First Lutheran Church, her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior grew and became the beautiful stitch-work that ran through her life and the binding that held all things together. She found great joy and peace as she looked forward to Glory by her Savior’s side.

The Finished Quilt

Padded with friends, backed by family, and stitched by faith.

Betty Joan Janssen fell asleep in Jesus, on Saturday April 6, 2019, surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held in her honor at 10:30 AM on Thursday April 11, at First Lutheran Church, 1001 North 4th Street in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran School in Ponca City.

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

Source: Trout Funeral Home