Betty Joan Fry

Betty Joan Fry passed away peacefully at the Fairview Nursing Home in Sedalia, Missouri, on Thursday, November 2, 2023.  Betty was born in Sedalia, Missouri on March 8, 1932, into a close-knit family.  She was the daughter of William S. and Anna (Stevens) Bolton and was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Ruby Hall, Stanley Bolton, Jr., Emory Bolton and Larry Bolton.

Betty graduated from Knob Noster High School and remained close to her classmates, attending many reunions and get togethers.  She attended Bethany Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse in 1952.  She remained in lifelong relationships with many of her fellow classmates. Nursing was her calling, and she practiced her profession at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, Missouri, Sweet Springs Community Hospital, Sweet Springs, Missouri, and Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, Missouri.  She also worked at several area nursing homes and home health agencies in the area.  She also volunteered to give vaccinations and blood pressure checks for various schools and organizations, and she removed stitches and gave shots to save a trip to the doctor.  Friends and family could always count on her for helpful advice too.  She was most proud of the fact that she received recognition for actively practicing her profession for over 60 years and was overjoyed when her daughter, Jan and granddaughter, Holly, became registered nurses.  Her faith and compassion for others made her an excellent nurse.

Betty attended LaMonte United Methodist Church, where she met Robert (Bob) Williams.  They were married on September 20, 1952, and were blessed with four children, Debra (Don) Weule, Stanley Williams, Barbara Williams and Janice (Daryl) Huffman.  They made their home in LaMonte, Missouri and enjoyed spending time with both families.  They enjoyed many family vacations, especially spending time at the family cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Bob preceded her in death on December 26, 1965.

Betty married Arthur Fry on May 1, 1971, welcoming two more children, Susan (Jr.) Sleeper, and David Fry, into her family. At that time, she moved to Otterville, Missouri, moving into the same home she lived in when she was a small child. Betty became a member of the Otterville Baptist church where she remained a devoted member until her death.   She and Arthur recently celebrated 52 years of marriage.  Betty has touched so many lives in both LaMonte and Otterville and enjoyed sharing her interests with family and friends. She was an avid gardener and froze/canned much of what was grown.  She loved cooking and is well-known for making jelly, her German chocolate cakes, almond brittle, homemade noodles, baking pies and decorating cakes.  She also made a lot of her family’s clothes, numerous Barbie doll clothes, patchwork lap-robes and pillows for her grandchildren and friends.

Family history was important to her. She documented the events in her life, becoming the family historian.  She was well-known by all for taking pictures and was never without her camera—much to the dismay of some of her nieces and nephews.  She loved to travel and experience new things, so she was excited to be able to visit her daughter in Europe twice.  She also loved the holidays and passed many family traditions on to her children.

Betty is survived by her husband Arthur Fry, her six Children, Grandchildren, Donald/Chip (Andrea) Weule, Jeffrey (Chally) Weule, Christine (Chad) Wirths, Jennifer (George) Pearson, Brieanna, Holly and Kacey Huffman, Maddison (Dylan) Boeck, Errika Fry, and Great Grandchildren, Caleb Weule, Lennon Weule, Austyn Sawford, Elaina, Daylan and Marina Wirths, and Grayson and Emberlynn Boeck.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 pm, on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Heckart Funeral Home, Sedalia, Missouri.

The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023, at the Otterville Baptist Church, followed by a graveside service at the LaMonte Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Otterville Baptist Church or the State Fair Community College Foundation for the Allied Health Endowment Scholarship.