Elizabeth Marie 'Betty' Schwartzkopf, Bison
Elizabeth Marie 'Betty' Schwartzkopf, 96, Bison, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at Locust Grove Village, La Crosse, Kansas.
Betty was born February 3, 1927, at the Krug farm, Rush Center, Kansas, the daughter of Fred B. and Mary (Schenkel) Krug. She was a lifelong resident of Rush County, Kansas.
A 1944 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, Kansas, she attended Fort Hays Kansas State College, Hays, Kansas, the summers of 1944 and 1945, during World War II, obtaining an emergency teacher’s certificate to teach school in Nekoma, Kansas, for two years. She was the deputy county clerk for Rush County, Kansas, before she became treasurer for USD #395, La Crosse, Kansas, a position she held for 25 years before her retirement.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, and United Methodist Women, both of La Crosse, Kansas, where she was the chairperson for church funeral dinners for years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Rush Center, Kansas, where she was a former Grand Matron, and a former member and officer of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, La Crosse, Kansas. She was a member of the Bison Community Museum Board, Bison, Kansas, and a trustee for the Lone Star Township Board. She was the church organist for Hope Lutheran Church, Rush Center, Kansas, gave piano lessons, taught music in the Rush Center school, and played with the Schroeder Band.
On October 21, 1966, she married Clayton G. Schwartzkopf at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas. He preceded her in death June 6, 1990.
Survivors include two sons, Leonard D. Eilts (Rose), Kansas City, Kansas, and Roger L. Eilts (Deidre), Prairie Village, Kansas; one daughter, Rayleen B. Hufford (Dennis), Elmendorf, Texas; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant brother, Leonard Frederick Krug; and two sisters, Corrine Poxon, and Lavergne Rife.
Per Betty’s wishes, the family has chosen cremation. No services are planned at this time.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to Locust Grove Village, La Crosse, Kansas, or Midwest Music Foundation of the greater Kansas City area (https://midwestmusicfoundation.org/donate/).
Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P.O.Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785-22-2517.