Betty Jean Wells

Betty Jean Blackman Wells

Betty Wells, 87, of Newtown, MO, passed away quietly at her home on Friday, January 22, 2010, surrounded by her family. She had been under hospice care for about a month.
Betty Jean Blackman Wells was born on the family home place near Newtown, MO, on April 1, 1922, the daughter of Charles and Jennie (Dickson) Blackman who preceded her in death. She attended the rural schools of Fillmore and Newtown and graduated from Lucerne High School in 1939. On September 30, 1939 she married Joe Wells in Princeton, MO, and he survives at home in Newtown, MO.
Joe and Betty farmed north of Newtown all their married lives. They lived on the place where Betty was born for the first 50 years of their marriage and moved to Newtown in 1988. Betty was a full partner in the farm with Joe, helping with milking the cows, tending the livestock and caring for the land. But Betty’s primary role was in caring for the home and family. She was an excellent cook and a wonderful hostess and, though a little on the shy side, she loved having friends and family into her home.
Betty was active in the community, working with PTO at school, and helping care for the Busby Cemetery. She was a member of the Order of Easter Star and the Newtown Christian Church. She and Joe liked to travel and had been to all fifty states.
Betty was quite and preferred staying in the background supporting, loving, and working to build a strong family and community.
Besides her husband, Betty is survived by three daughters and a son: JoAnn Boatman and husband Jerry of Newtown, MO; Linda Tucker and husband Jack of Newtown, MO; Mary Borchardt and husband David of Clive, IA; and Jack Wells and wife Rachel of Newtown, MO. Betty’s thirteen grandchildren are Brett Boatman, Rebecca Boatman, Melinda Henson, Brian Tucker, Kara Scheer, Amy Vieth, Joseph Borchardt, Emily Ermis, Shelby Wells, Lucas Wells, Abby Wells, Matthew Wells, and Nathan Wells. Eleven great grandchildren (and one on the way) also survive.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Shearer and Charlene Couchman, and two sisters-in-law, Dorotha Hullinger and Vera Wilson.
Funeral services for Betty Wells were at 2:30 at the Newtown Christian Church on Monday, January 25, 2010. Pastor Denny Daum conducted the service with assistance from Rev. Carroll Davenport. Songs were “In the Garden,” sung by the congregation, and “Whispering Hope” and “On Eagle’s Wings,” sung by Kevin & Brenda Collins. Betty’s extended family was the casket bearers. Interment was in the Lucerne Cemetery, Lucerne, MO.
Memorials are suggested to the Newtown Christian Church, the Busby Cemetery or the Lucerne Cemetery and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO 63565.