Betty Deneke Summers

Betty Louise Deneke Summers, formerly of Sikeston, died Monday, March 25, 2013 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Loving mother, sister, daughter, teacher, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, she was fiercely loyal and protective. She ran a private nursery school for many years in Sikeston where she taught hundreds of children countless things, from how to tie their shoes, and how not to behave, to how important manners are. She taught little ones things that many believed were outside their abilities to learn and made sure they had fun while learning them. On the occasion of her retirement from teaching, she was honored to receive a Proclamation from the Missouri House of Representatives proclaiming that day as Betty Summers Day. She was dearly loved by many Sikeston-area residents and will be sorely missed.

Betty was born October 4, 1927, daughter and first-born child of Elmer F. and Lillian E. Lufcy Deneke, who also lived in Cape Girardeau until their deaths.

She is survived by her brother, Robert E. “Bob” Deneke; her beloved sister-in-law, Merle Deneke; her children, Ronald E. Summers (Margret), Julia D. Agee (Lance), and Jane Jenkins. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Mande Watkins (Tony), Derek Jenkins, Jordan Strode, Stephan, Nicholas, and Barbara Summers; three great-grandchildren, Trey, Connor Beth, and Camryn Watkins; and nieces Laura Green (Randall), Karel Arnett (John); and nephew Robert E. Deneke, Jr. (Pam); and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 29, from 5-8pm at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where funeral services will be conducted at 10am Saturday. Rev. Tom Bass will officiate, assisted by Randall Green.

Burial will follow in the Cape Girardeau Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

American Diabetes Association

10820 Sunset Office Dr., Suite 220

St. Louis, MO 63127

OR

Sikeston Area Humane Society

1900 Compress Rd.

Sikeston, MO 63801