Betty Jean (Cunningham) Behrens

Betty Jean (Cunningham) Behrens was born to Floyd Fredrick Cunningham and Hester Hattie (Storer) Cunningham on March 24, 1940 in Selden, KS.  Betty departed this life in Giddings, TX at Oakland Manor Nursing Center on July 5, 2023 at the age of 83.  Betty passed away due to natural causes including Dementia.

 

Betty grew up on a farm outside of Quinter, KS and then near Elk Falls, KS.  A few years later she moved with her family to Towanda, KS where she graduated from Towanda High School in 1958.  Betty married Dale Schmidt on September 12, 1959.  They had three children, Stewart Wayne, Tresa Ann and Sandra Lee Schmidt.

 

Betty had many different and interesting jobs through her life including Bank Teller, Jewelry Store Attendant, Waitress, Bartender, Grainery Truck Driver, Sheriff's Dept. Secretary and School Bus Driver.  The family moved several times and settled in Cedar Vale, KS in 1978 where all three children graduated from High School.  

 

After their divorce Betty moved to College Station, TX and then Austin, TX where she worked for UT.  She met and later married Monroe Behrens on May 6, 1990. They moved to La Grange, TX where Betty worked in a plant nursery, a jewelry store and even managed an apartment complex.

 

Betty was a person who knew what she liked and took the time to enjoy the things that made her happy.  She loved to do embroidery, paint, draw, design and make jewelry.  She was a really good cook and made great Sunday dinners, homemade noodles, pies, bread, cookies and candy.  Betty also loved to go fishing!  She enjoyed gardening, planting vegetables, fruits and flowers.  Betty loved her family, her kids, her friends, thinking about Heaven, dancing, being outside and hot fudge sundaes!  And if you knew Betty, you knew she loved her cats! (actually all cats! and dogs!)

 

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Orville and Ray Cunningham, one brother-in-law Dick Berrie, one sister-in-law Faye Cunningham, first husband Dale Schmidt and second husband Monroe Behrens.

 

Survivors include one sister Mildred Berrie (PA), one brother Ben (Karen) Cunningham (TX), Sister-in Law Donna Cunningham (KS), Sister & Brother-in-Law Dorothy & Dale Witt (TX); one son Stewart Schmidt (NM), two daughters Tresa (Joe) Keaton (OK), Sandra (Curtis) Shumard (GA), stepson Burton (Eugenia) Behrens (TX); Grandchildren Katie (Kyle) McGuire (TX), Clinton (Kayla) Keaton (OK), Luke Shumard (TN), Travis (Kylee) Shumard (CO), Jesse Shumard (GA); Great Grandchildren Rush, Jay, Kiley, Mason, Lane, Liam; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.

 

"We will always carry your memory in our hearts."

 

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter in La Grange.

 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Fayette Memorial Funeral Home in La Grange, Texas.  Share your thoughts and find memories online at www.fayettememorialhome.com.