Betty Widows Loper, 94, a lifelong Garden City resident, died peacefully December 11, 2023, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Ks., surrounded by her loving family
.Betty was born February 18, 1929, in Pierceville, Kansas, to Glen and Grace (Baker) Widows, the eldest of their three children. At the age of 16, she married the love of her life, James Loper, after promising her parents that she would finish her high school education. Jim and Betty were married April 22, 1945, and Betty went on to graduate (as promised) from Garden City High School in 1946.
A homemaker by nature, Betty managed to juggle her roles as wife, mother and as a familiar face on Main Street where she worked 18 years at Linenberger Jewelry. Although she retired in 1987, she remained close to the Linenberger family until her death.
Until her health made it impossible, she led an active life both physically and socially through memberships in the Centennial Gals EHU, water aerobics at the YMCA, and later involvement in the Finney County Senior Center. Betty's faith was strong, and she treasured friendships made during all these activities and especially at Garden Valley Church where she had, in the past, served on the Social Committee for many years.
Betty enjoyed a variety of activities that changed through the years: traveling, playing cards and riding motorcycles with lifelong friends, the late Ernest and Juanita Kells; camping and fishing with grandchildren; gardening, baking, jigsaw puzzles, painting, and writing letters.
Survivors include sons Jerry (Sun Yi) Loper and Joe (Kathi) Loper of Garden City; daughter Sue Woods, Scott City, Ks; brother Robert Widows, Garden City; sister Judy Largent, Wichita; grandsons Jamie (Janelle) Woods, Scott City, Aaron (Ashlee) Loper, Olathe, Ks. and Ryan Loper, Raytown, Mo.; granddaughters Kim (Tom) Yakle, Wapello, Iowa, and Gina (Anthony) Basilio, Garden City; great-granddaughters Alyssa and Nayeli Basilio of Garden City and Allison Loper, Olathe; and great-grandsons Austin, Kendall and Drew Loper, Olathe, Ks., and several nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Grace Widows; her beloved Jim, her partner for 65 years before his death in 2010; her great-granddaughter Shelby Woods, son-in-law Dennis Woods, sister-in-law Ramona Widows, brother-in-law Leon Largent, and nephews Lanny Largent and David Widows.
There will be no funeral, but a celebration of her long and well-lived life is planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in her name to Garden Valley Church, 1701 N. 3rd St. Garden City, Ks., or the Finney County Senior Center, 907 N. 10th St. Garden City, Ks.