Betty Wurtz

Betty L. Wurtz lived a life loving Jesus.  She walked into her eternal home with Him on July 5, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.  She was born December 20, 1941, in Summersville, Missouri to Alta and Walter Short.  Betty lived a vibrant life.  She attended a one room schoolhouse where her mother taught.  She was the youngest of seven children.  She graduated high school at the age of 16 and had a full ride scholarship to Southeast Missouri State University in Engineering.  She married Frank W. Wurtz, Sr. from Lemay, Missouri, and shared love and life for 55 years.  Betty had a passion for nursing and in her 40’s got her RN degree and worked primarily in geriatric care.  Later, she and her friend Mary Kay Lahr created “Kay-Lou” a giftshop and tearoom outside of Piasa, Illinois.  As the years went by Betty saw her children become adults, her grandchildren become adults, and watch her great grandchildren grow.  She loved the little ones, and they loved her.  Betty was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist church in Piasa and was a leader in Bible Study Fellowship for many years.  She loved to share Jesus with others and encourage people to take their next steps with Jesus.  She moved to Kansas City, Kansas to be with her oldest daughter and husband in 2016.  During her last years she was a member and volunteered at Westside Family Church Leavenworth, Kansas.  She also volunteered at the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope and anywhere else she found a need.  She loved people where there were and encouraged so many.

She is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and a sister, husband, and granddaughter.  Her surviving family members are daughter Deborah Beauchamp and her husband David of Kansas City, Kansas, son Frank William “Bill “Wurtz, Jr. and his wife Stephanie of Perrysburg, Ohio, daughter Elizabeth Cottingham of Leavenworth, Kansas, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, a brother, Jim Short of Montana, and a sister, Lucy Bequette of Missouri.  She now sits in the presence of her Lord and Savior.

If anyone would like to contribute in honor of Betty, memorial contributions may be made to the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope, 311 Kiowa, Leavenworth KS 66048