Betty Patterson

Betty M. Patterson, 88 of Beardstown, died Thursday, November 23, 2023 at her home surrounded by family.

She was born June 6, 1935 in Beardstown. She was the daughter of Elmer Anderson and Freda Summey. She married Patrick E. Patterson on July 22, 1951 and he preceded her in death on April 12, 2009.

She is survived by her three children Vicki Chambers of Arizona, Nancy (husband Dan) Wessel, and Randy (wife Julia) Patterson; five grandchildren Kerry (husband Aaron) Slater, Mandy Crook, Tara (husband Doug) Curtner, Heather, and Tara Buhlig, and Bill Davidsmeier; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; three sisters Deborah Summey of Tx, Linda (husband Dale) Zeisler and Cathy (husband Tony) Pate both of Rushville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her parents preceded her death,her stepmother Flossie Ragland Anderson, a granddaughter Tracey Laws, four brothers John E, Leroy, Richard E., and Herbert D. Anderson, and a sister Freda Mae Hewitt.

Mrs. Patterson attended Beardstown Schools. In her younger years, she worked as a bank teller for Beardstown Savings and much of her life at the Star Café alongside her best friend Sue Kindred. She was an avid crafter and went through different seasons, whether ceramics, florals, wreaths, or whatever suited her. Throughout her life, she saw lots of changes from the installation of rotary phones, colored televisions, wars, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the creation of computers, to name a few. At age 84, she picked out her very first car. All the cars in her past had been brought home by her husband without a thought, and she was grateful for whatever she had to drive. When it was time to upgrade her phone to a smartphone, she promised "I am never going to use this" but after quickly learning Bingo was downloaded, it became a favorite pastime. Above all else, her family is what she lived for, and the time spent with them brought her the most joy.

Cremation Rites have been accorded, and burial will take place at the Beardstown City Cemetery at a later date. Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown is assisting the family.

Instead of memorials or flowers, the family asks that you pay it forward by doing a random act of kindness in Betty's name. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.