Betty Charlene Russell passed away at the Tiffany Heights Care Center in Mound City, Missouri on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Betty was born on April 23, 1926 in Villisca, Iowa to Earl and Carol (Brenton) Scott. She graduated from Villisca High School and began her working career in Clarinda, Iowa, later being transferred to the Pentagon in Washington, DC where she lived in the Egyptian Embassy.
On November 23, 1945 she was married to Lee Russell in Villisca. They moved to a farm in Page County, Iowa and began raising their two children, Larry and Linda. In 1961 the family moved to a farm in Holt County and began rising row crops and later registered Angus cattle. The couple won the Holt County Farm Management Award in 1973 and the Missouri State Achievement Award for Agriculture in 1978.
Throughout her life Betty willingly volunteered throughout her community. She was awarded the Outstanding Volunteer for Adams County, Iowa. In addition, Betty was a US Census Field Representative Supervisor 1970- 2000, Cosmopolitan Club president, PTA president, Holt County Democratic Party co-chairman, a charter member and secretary of the Nodaway County Saddle Club, and a member of the Fortescue United Methodist Women. In addition, she won several ribbons for baking at the Adams County Fair.
During her life she worked as a legal secretary, bookkeeper, cookbook editor, and cooking demonstrator. She was quite the housekeeper, chef, baker, and gardener, and loved to travel. She opened her home to many relatives and friends to care for them in their last days.
Betty was fiercely independent and well organized, often known by her family as the Little General or Queen Mum. Her kitchen was her queendom, opening it only to her children and grandchildren to learn the art of cooking and baking, especially cookies.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; and three brothers, Wayne, Wesley and Lee Scott.
Survivors include her two children, Larry (Teresa) Russell of Mound City and Linda Russell of Lehigh Acres, Florida; six grandchildren, Angie and Mike Flowers of St. Joseph, Missouri, Clarissa and Jason Wollard of The Woodlands, Texas, Jon Russell of Forest City, Missouri, Stephanie Pendleton of Fayette, Missouri, Michelle and Brandon Clark of St. Joseph, and Chris and Jenny Russell of Mound City; great grandchildren, Tyler and Stephanie Steele, Sydney Flowers, Max Wollard, Evan Pendleton, Emma, Caleb, and Camden Russell, Alyxandria and Parker Clark, Hillary and Miles Loucks, Rachel, Gianna, Dylan, and Derek Russell; and great-great granddaughter, Remi Loucks.
Funeral services: Friday, January 5, 2024, 11:00 am, United Methodist Church, Mound City. Family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 am. Interment: Braddyville Cemetery, Braddyville, Iowa. Memorials: Mound City United Methodist Church or the Mound City Nutrition Site.
