Betty Jane Millhouse

Betty was born on September 27th, 1929, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Florence and Patrick O’Connell. She grew up alongside her sister Ginny and graduated from Wyandotte High School.

After high school Betty married the love of her life, James Millhouse, who sold his motorcycle to afford an engagement ring to ask for her hand. The pair soon had two children, Mike and Nancy. The Millhouse’s enjoyed spending time with family and friends and were lucky to live near Betty’s sister, Ginny. As the two families grew, they spent countless hours visiting, talking, and celebrating holidays together.

She was a secretary before working for many years at Procter and Gamble on the assembly line. Her job was across the river from James' workplace at Fairbanks Morse. Betty loved her work and was very proud to be a part of the P&G company family. She looked forward to meet ups and gatherings with her old work mates all throughout her life. She enjoyed square dancing, reading, and sewing with her sister, and heartfelt conversations with close friends Louise and Versa.

Later in their marriage, one of Betty and James’ favorite past times was to go on walks together around the neighborhood or at a local mall early in the morning. When James passed, Betty continued this tradition on her own, with her niece Pat, or with friends and neighbors. She was a tiny woman who was always on the move and pressing forward.

Betty was a fiercely loyal mother, who valued time with her family most of all. She was a grandparent who took her grandchildren out for special days and showered them with love and gifts. Betty had the amazing ability to make a child feel special, like they could do anything, and that they were perfect in her eyes.

The last year of Betty’s life was spent at her daughter’s house. Playing nightly games with Nancy and her rascal of a husband, Kevin. Laughing and loving, they played board games and card games at night and ate breakfast sandwiches in the morning. Betty put on ten pounds due to Kevin’s firehouse cooking. They made for an incredible trio. Betty called Kevin her second son and, as always, she was both her daughter's mother and her best friend. To those watching, Betty was a lesson in aging with grace and compassion. She lived a healthy life, full of kindness, and had the ability to look for the best in life and in others. As noted by her nephew Gary, this outlook may have been at least partly responsible for such a long and love-filled life.

When her husband James passed over two decades ago, Betty was heartbroken, but as she looked around at her children and her grandchildren, and all the love that surrounded her, Betty famously said, “Yes, I am sad, but I have far too much to live for.” She was a model of courage, of dedication, and of kindness. She was gentle. She loved with her whole heart and brought joy to so many. Her most prized moments in her later years would be the minutes and hours she spent alongside her daughter Nancy, her son, Mike, and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Every time a loved one left Betty Millhouse’s home, she stood in the glow of her porchlight, one hand on the front door and the other blowing kisses as you left. It was a reminder, as you drove away, that there was a person in this world who thought you were perfect and who loved with total abandon. She was a tiny person, who grew large in these moments. A beacon of love and generosity for both family and friends. We know she is in a better place now, arm in arm with her husband, James, laughing and joking with her sister, Ginny, and listening to her son, Mike, tell incredible stories, surrounded by those that love her. We imagine her now, glowing and smiling, blowing kisses and silhouetted by light, waiting for us to catch up, so she can hold us in her arms once again.

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Unity Parish, 2646 S. 34th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66106 on March 5, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am.

Graveside services will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112 on March 6, 2026, at 11:00 am.