Bettie Lou ‘Betty’ Boswell passed away on June 26, 2021, a week shy of her 93rd birthday following a lengthy illness. She was at home in Clayton, Calif. with her daughter, Connie Boswell Holmberg at her side.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Grace Blackwell; husband, Frank Boswell and siblings, Earl Blackwell, Doris Garrett and Juanita McGee.
Betty is survived her by children, Connie Holmberg (Rich), Terry Boswell (April) and Trace Boswell (Deanne); and grandchildren, Sansa Brien (Dennis), Krista Imrie (Giles), Seth Holmberg (Michelle), Christopher Boswell (David Bowles), Holly Gottlieb (Craig) and Justin (Erin) Boswell and Sean Boswell; and great-grandchildren, Connor, Spencer, Maile Brien, Grace and Reese Imrie, Brian, Gavin, Ava Holmberg, Ellington, Gracyn Boswell-Bowles, Emery and Lucas Gottlieb, Cayson, and Kylan Boswell. Her two yellow tabby cats, Tiger and TJ, were a great source of comfort to her and also deserve mention.
Betty was born on Independence Day, July 4, 1928 in rural Monroe County, the youngest of four children. As a child she thought all the fireworks and celebrations were just for her. She rode a pony to school. While working in Mexico at the Florsheim Shoe Factory she attended a dance and there met Frank Boswell, recently discharged from the U.S. Navy following World War II. He must have caught the eye of the little beauty and charmed her with his good looks and skill on the dance floor. They married and although life kept them very busy, their love of dance was to be a recurrent source of joy.
Their marriage endured more than 68 years until Frank’s death in 2017. Together they were active in civic organizations including the Lions and Moose, and enjoyed a wide circle of friends. They gathered regularly with extended family for barbecues and games of cards and always attended their children’s athletic events. Later Betty and Frank traveled at home and abroad and, during those cold Missouri winters, made annual visits to children and grandchildren in Hawaii, California, and Florida where they were always welcomed as they were easy to love. At home in Missouri though, they were often to be found on a Saturday night dancing the night away. When Frank entered the VA following a stroke, Betty visited him daily for four years, dressed up, greeting all the vets with a smile and a kind word. Frank would watch for her to drive up in her little red Thunderbird. “Kelly” often entertained with his guitar and they’d still take a turn on the dance floor, with Frank in his wheelchair grinning up at his “Bette”.
Betty was a devoted mother, wife, sister, and daughter. She raised three wonderful children, was a good cook, gardened and canned, bowled in a league and volunteered at Audrain Medical Center. She was always gentle and an animal lover. Favorite family stories include one about a pimiento cheese recipe, a meat grinder and little Connie’s finger, a festive Christmas raccoon she inadvertently fried up for Frank’s work crew “What? I didn’t know that was a raccoon!”, and another involving a litter of baby rabbits she bottle fed and later released into a field, running to keep them from hopping after her. Soft-spoken, tender-hearted and kind, Betty is much-loved by her many friends and family, including her beloved grandchildren who all just knew her as “Emo”. The family all miss her deeply, carry her in their hearts, and know she was just ready to go home.
A private service will be held at a later date.
Arnold Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.
