Betty Jo Lawrence

On November 19, 2025, Betty Jo Lawrence danced into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior and into the arms of her beloved husband Jerry as they were reunited in their everlasting love.

Born August 9, 1929 in Haileyville, Oklahoma to Grady Key & Irene Beatrice Burns, Betty spent her childhood on the family farm. She had a love for the performing arts, often displaying her talents of singing and self-taught piano skills in school plays and musicals.

Her beauty and grace caught the eye of a handsome boy from Hartshorne, who would walk miles just to take her on a date. She married that handsome Hartshorne boy, Jerry O. Lawrence on February 22, 1948. Their beautiful union created a loving family of three children, ten grandchildren, twenty eight great grandchildren and twenty three great-great grandchildren.

Betty spent her career as an insurance firm secretary clacking away at the typewriter with her perfectly painted nails. She and Jerry loved to dance and spent many nights doing just that at the Moose Lodge with friends. After retirement, she and Jerry spent much of their time in Colorado searching for gemstones at Ruby Mountain, visiting their kids and grandkids, and traveling the country in their RV.

She was a talented painter and quilter. She loved to cook, and Jerry always joked “you can tell when mama is cooking when the smoke alarm is going off”. Her famous venison burritos were a family favorite. Betty was the epitome of the perfect mother and grandmother. She was always dressed to the nines in a trendy outfit and never left the house without perfect hair and matching lipstick and nails.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, brothers (Bill & Bob), sisters (Alice & Dovie Jean), son in law (Butch) and her beloved husband Jerry along with the Trilogy of Sweeties.

She is survived by her children Jerry E. Lawrence (Janice), Ronald D. Lawrence, and Betty Sharon Arnold (Betsy), and her sister, Peggy Burns. Grandchildren Cheri (Kirk) Swestka, Traci (Bill) Whitehead, Jeremy (Abby) Lawrence, Shaun (Anne) Lawrence, Ronny Lawrence, Allie Lawrence, Crystal (Brad) Groves, Kim (Adam) Balzer, Jennifer (Justin) Graham, Alexander (Darrion) Lawrence, and Madeline Lawrence.

The world is a better place because of Betty. If she taught us one thing, it was to always live our lives with love and compassion for all. She will be fiercely missed.

Funeral service for Betty will be held at 10:00AM, Monday, November 24th, with visitation one hour prior from 9:00AM to 10:00AM, at Lakeview Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Lakeview Cemetery in the Garden of Apostles, 12100 East 13th Street North, Wichita, Kansas 67206.