Elizabeth "Betty" Jane Duckworth

ELIZABETH J. (“BETTY”) DUCKWORTH, passed away in her sleep on April 1, 2014 in Houston, Texas, after a brief battle with cancer. She would have celebrated her 85th birthday in May. Betty was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota on May 29th, 1929, to Leigh and Adeline Seaman. She grew up in Warner, South Dakota in a farming and banking family. Following graduation from Warner High School she attended South Dakota State, before moving to Amarillo, Texas, where she attended West Texas State University. In Amarillo, she met and married her husband of over 50 years, Bill Duckworth. While living in Amarillo they had their only child, Bart. A job transfer took them to Topeka, Kansas, where they lived for over 30 years. While in Topeka, Betty was employed by Capitol Federal Savings and Loan, retiring after 26 years as Assistant to the Chairman and Corporate Secretary. Following retirement Bill and Betty moved to Houston to be closer to their beloved grandchildren, Ben and Annie, as well as their daughter-in-law, Debi and son, Bart.

Betty made friends easily and was very busy up until the last few months of her life. She loved playing bridge with several different bridge groups and was so happy when she ate lunch or dinner with her friends in Divine Diners and Loving Friends. She was an active member of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Missouri City, where she served as a Deacon. Both Bill and Betty were active in the Shrine and were members of the Arab Temple in Topeka, Kansas and the Arabia Temple in Houston, Texas. Betty spent the last eight months at The Buckingham, and the family extends many thanks for the kind and loving care she received from the staff while there.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Bill; and is survived by Bart, Debi, Ben and Annie; as well as her brother, Charles and his wife Darilyn and their children and grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road, Missouri City, Texas, on Friday April 4, 2014, at 1:30PM. A reception at the Church will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southminster Presbyterian Church.