Betty Jean Parker

Betty Jean Parker passed away peacefully on April 6, 2025.

Betty was born on October 28, 1930 to Ruth McDonnall and Joseph H. McDonnall in Kansas City, Kansas. She graduated from Rosedale High School and attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1951, Betty married Leslie I. Parker. Much of their married lives were spent in Poughkeepsie, New York, until they later settled in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. After Leslie's passing in 1994, Betty returned to her roots in the Kansas City area.

In her younger days, she was a concert pianist and played throughout the Kansas City area. Over the years, Betty held various occupations including a dental office manager, a Social Services representative, and a medical records staff member. Betty spent her life focused on the service of others and volunteered in numerous capacities at all points of her long life.

Betty's faith in Christ was her foundation. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church where she ministered in a variety of ways, including by: singing in the choir, teaching, and participating in the Stephens Ministry.

She will be remembered for being an avid reader, a history buff, and a lover of all-things chocolate. Betty was known for her sharp wit and impeccable memory. Until the very end, she was up to date on Kansas sports statistics and could correctly identify a Concerto playing in the background.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Leslie I Parker. She is survived by two daughters: Dana (Dennis) Rademacher of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Debra (David) Davis of North Venice, Florida. She is survived by four granddaughters and six great grandchildren: Dawn (Brian) DeNio and Brooklynn and Kaden DeNio of Omaha, Nebraska; Jessalyn (Craig) Garvey and Ford, Pierce and Lara Garvey of Winnetka, Illinois; Lisa (Vinny) Dahle of Elkhorn, Nebraska; and Kendra (Eric) Jorgensen and Briggs Jorgensen of Denver, Colorado.

In honor of her wishes, there will be no funeral service. Betty's family invites you to privately celebrate her memory in your own ways. She will be missed.

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 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. According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18