Betty Ruth Rowland

Betty (Betts) Montgomery Rowland passed away on October 31, 2014. She was born at home in Chaffee, Missouri on October 7, 1928, the only child of John and Celia Montgomery. Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 11:00 am at Broadway Christian Church, with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. She grew up in Chaffee, Missouri and after graduating from Chaffee High School, she attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College for one year. She then transferred to Washington University graduating from the St. Louis Institute of Music with a degree in piano teaching. After graduating from college she married her college sweet heart, Donald Rowland, in 1950. Her life was filled with various musical activities beginning with her playing organ at her church while in high school and while in college she went to an orphanage to teach piano, sang in the Bach Choir, and played piano for the String Orchestra in St. Louis. After college she was the music teacher in O’Fallon, Illinois while also giving piano lessons. Following her husband to Japan after he was called back into the Air Force she taught piano to military personnel at Yokota Air Base in Japan. She also played organ services for the bomber crews lost while bombing over North Korea. After returning to the states she played organ for various churches as she moved around the country as the wife of a career military officer. Among her other activities she was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader in two states, a Cub Scout Den Mother in three states, a PTA officer, and a school room Mother in three states. In Columbia, she was a member of the Women’s Society of the Missouri Symphony Society and hosted their first fund raising gala in her home at Pierpont. She was active in Eastern Star, Chapter IT, PEO and Grace Circle of Kings Daughters. Her joyful spirit touched the lives of all who knew her and her uppermost passion was her family. Betts leaves a strong legacy of devotion and love to her husband, Donald Rowland; her children: Randy Rowland of Seattle, Dr. Robin Jones of Columbia, Dr. Richard Rowland of Shorewood, IL, and Wren Roark of Columbia; 13 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. She will be sadly missed by all. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 104 Corporate Lake Dr, Columbia, MO 65203 or to the donor’s charity of choice.