Betty Jo (Oetting) Wolfe

Betty Jo (Oetting) Wolfe, 85, Kansas City, Missouri passed away February 17, 2017.  A visitation will be held 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at Raytown Christian Church.  Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM. Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Raytown Christian Church.  Burial in Brooking Cemetery, Raytown, Missouri.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Raytown Education Foundation or Raytown Historical Society.

Betty Jo Oetting was born in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. September 22, 1931.  Betty came from a long line of educators in her family.  She was a lifelong resident of Raytown, Missouri  and attended Raytown High School then got her BS in Education (with honors) and MS from Central Missouri State University.  She taught physical education and health for 25 years with the Brentwood, Missouri, and Raytown Consolidated School District #2 and retired in 1989.  

Betty was known for touching all the lives of those she taught. Betty was active in many organizations.  She was a member of the Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) serving as President in 1982; a member of MSTA (Missouri State Teachers Association), Raytown Retired Teachers Association; PEO, Raytown Arts Council; volunteered at the Raytown Historical Society and Vaille Mansion; and was a board member of the Raytown Parks and Recreation.  She was a Kiwanette, assistant softball coach for her girls teams, Brownie troop leader, volunteered for REAP (Raytown Emergency Assistant Program).  

In her earlier years, you may have seen her on the Betty Hayes show teaching exercise.  She was a YMCA exercise instructor as well as a water babies instructor. She was a member of Raytown Christian Church since 1956.  She was very involved in the church choir and drama ministries, she played handbells (just another dingaling), was a member of the H & H Sunday School class, volunteered with the church food pantry, and served as a deacon.  She was a parent sponsor for the church youth ministry when her girls attended high school youth group.  You would also find Betty at one of the church doors greeting folks as they came to worship on Sunday mornings.

You would always find Betty working some kind of crossword puzzles or reading, bike riding, hiking, traveling to see her grandkids, spending time with all her family, attending AND participating in theater, or planting her petunias and hanging her geranium baskets, or simply sitting in a lawn chair on the driveway taking in the neighborhood atmosphere. Betty was a very loving, caring, patient; mother, wife, grandmother, and friend.  

Very blessed to have shared her life: husband, Jerry Wolfe, Kansas City, Missouri; daughters, Linda Roberts, Independence, Missouri, Laurie Kidd, Wagner, South Dakota; brothers, Robert (Tommie Ruth) Oetting, Rolla, Missouri, Vaughn (Judy) Oetting, Levasy, Missouri; grandchildren, Jessica Spence, Austin, Texas and Stephen (Maddy) Spence, Phoenix, Arizona. She also leaves behind stepdaughters; Cathy (Jim) Lysinger, Blue Springs, Missouri, Cheryl Constance, Raytown, Missouri, Cindy (John) Bargas. Yukon, Oklahoma; step-grandchildren, Ty (Kayla) Lysinger, Independence, Missouri, Jay Lysinger, Chicago, Illinois, Hayley Lysinger, Blue Springs, Missouri; 4 nieces and nephews, and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Ruth Oetting, and Don Morris (husband).