Betty Katherine Strange

Persistence and accomplishment best describe our beloved mother, Betty Katherine (Geise) Strange (85), who went to be with the lord on April 16, 2026, in St Louis, Missouri. She earned a master’s degree in economics and education while working as a full-time high school teacher and single parent. Betty spent her professional career as an educator, retiring from Dallas, Texas, public schools in 2002. She worked in the early ABA years as the executive secretary for the general manager of the Indiana Pacers.

Betty grew up in the Irvington area of Indianapolis, graduating from Thomas Carr Howe High School in 1958.She attended Butler University and earned degrees from Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of North Texas. She was the 8th-grade reading teacher of former N.B.A. star Larry Johnson.

Betty was a talented artist who painted and worked on ceramics. Betty loved music; she kept her crate of 45s long after mp3 player creation. She religiously watched the Indy 500. She loved wearing her Indiana sweatshirt particularly during this last year’s college football final.

Betty loved her dogs. She lived with her Pug Bernie until she moved to assisted living and regularly FaceTimed her. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, donations to any animal rescue organizations are preferable. Organizations associated with our family include Home 2 Home Canine Orphanage (home2homecanineorphange.org) and Senior Dog Project (stlsdp.org) local St Louis canine rescues.

Betty is preceded by her parents, Frederick and Marguerite Geise, both of Indianapolis. She is survived by: her two children Stacey Elizabeth Johnson of Chesterfield, Missouri, and Jeffrey Thomas Strange of Richmond, Texas, her son-in-law, Dale Johnson of Chesterfield, Missouri, and her brother and sister-in-law, Charles Joseph and Donna Geise of Supply, North Carolina. She is also survived by her cousin, Dr. John Klein of Indianapolis.

Visitation will be held on May 1, 2026, at Crown Hill Funeral Home.