Betty Chapman

Miss Betty Aletta Schuette was born on August 31, 1923, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to George Rostad Schuette and Meta Helen (Roloff) Schuette. She graduated in 1941 from South Division High School in Milwaukee. Betty married Lt. Jack S. Kelly, with the AAF of the United States, in 1943, when she was a civilian home girl. Immediately after, Betty took a job in a war plant in Milwaukee. On September 1, 1944 she got the news that her husband Jack was killed in an air crash in the China-Burma-India theatre. Betty enlisted in the WAC in 1944.

She married Denman Scott Chapman on November 3, 1945. Betty retired as a WAC, yet still served her country by supporting her husband’s commitment to the military. They raised seven children as the family was stationed all over America and the world, including Japan and Germany. They moved to Grand Junction in 1972 following Denman’s retirement in California. Betty worked at Ultronix, a manufacturer of resistors and components. She continued to work for Ultronix as a supervisor of quality control until she retired 20 years later. At the time of Betty’s retirement, she was recognized for having never missed a day of work. Retirement allowed Miss Betty to devote more time to her volunteer career.

Miss Betty was an asset to the Grand Junction community in so many ways. She volunteered at the Gold Mine Bingo Hall for over 20 years to benefit many charities including VFW Post 1247 and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 595. Betty was awarded “Volunteer of the Year” on October 30, 2009 for her dedication to the groups and players at Gold Mine Bingo. In addition, Betty has been recognized for 12 years of volunteer service at the Grand Junction VA Hospital. She was an Auxiliary member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a Lifetime Gold Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary member, as well as a member of the American Legion.

Betty was very fortunate to be born into a very social and athletic family. Her grandfather, Herman Roloff, built an eight lane bowling alley in Milwaukee in 1912. In her high school year book, it is printed “Give Betty ten pins to success, and she’ll knock them over”. Betty has been featured in many newspaper articles regarding her bowling accomplishments. In one article, Betty Chapman was featured in the newspaper as one of “Five Venuses of Sports”. A quote from the article reads “…cute little Betty Chapman, 23, of Gosset’s…who has hit 260 in bowling, hits the tape at 5 feet 3 inches, weighs 108, with 34 inch hips, and bust, and 24 inch waist. On the 1946 championship WAC team of Ft. Meade, MD, she is entering in the Ninth Annual J A Bowling Classic…We better warn you…Betty has a nice, big, husky husband who just LOVES to toss photogs down the alley.” After her husband retired to San Diego, California, the newspaper reported “The telephone rang at a most inopportune time this week for Betty Chapman. Betty started with a spare and had a string of 8 strikes going at the Golden bowl, when she was called to answer the ring. She lost concentration and had to settle for a spare in the 10th and finished with a 269. She was shooting for a 290”. One of the seven kids at home called and she answered the phone. She was a semi-pro bowler throughout her life, enjoying many of the tournaments with her daughter, Susan, who held up the family tradition and was a semi-pro also. Betty retired her bowling ball in the 1990’s.

Betty will be greatly missed by her family including her children, Susan Shields, John (Mary) Chapman, Joanne (Richard) Braucht, Robin (Scott) Hamilton, James Chapman and Barbara Chapman-Daitch; eight grandchildren, Laura Shields, Jacque Shields, Aaron Chapman, Matthew Chapman, Leanne (Mark) Griffin, Ian (Miriam) Hamilton, Danielle (Josh)Daitch-DeLott, and Julia Daitch-Wilson; and by one great-grandchild. Betty is predeceased by her husband, Denman; siblings, George, Jack, and Jane; and her youngest son, George.

There are many that celebrated Betty’s 95th birthday at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 595 last year on August 31st. As you know, Betty had so much fun and appreciated everyone and the outpouring of attention she received. We come together again to celebrate Betty Chapman, and all she contributed. Accordingly, The Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 595 and Miss Betty’s family will host a “Celebration of Life’ at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2019. Go to www.eaglesaerie595.com for location. We call on the brothers and sisters of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 595 to celebrate the loss of our sister, Betty Chapman, and the joy and inspiration that remains.

A full military honors service will be held in the Veteran’s section of Orchard Mesa Cemetery at 10 a.m. on July 30, 2019. A reception will follow at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 595 .

The family understands there are many that want to honor Betty Chapman’s contributions by attending.

Please call (970) 242-4814 to let us know if you are able to attend the service and/or reception on July 30th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Fraternal Order Eagles Memorial/Scholarship Fund, payable to FOE Auxiliary 595 in the name of Betty K. Chapman.