Betty Rae Murrell Kleck, age 89, passed away peacefully February 18, 2020, in Chandler, Maricopa, AZ. Betty was born February 3, 1931 in Arlington, Brooking, SD, daughter of Beatrice Bethine Petty and Cecil Dillard Murrell.
Betty grew up in Phoenix, AZ and as a child loved playing with her friends at Encanto Park, riding bikes and catching the streetcar downtown to see a movie. In elementary school she remembers that “crazy Kleck boy” racing his hotrod Model T up and down 23rd Avenue which at the time was dirt and the dust was flying! She later met that crazy boy in high school and married him February 12, 1949 in Phoenix, Maricopa, AZ.
From the time Betty was a child she had a love of God and was always searching different religions. Early in her marriage she and Neil were introduced to the missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After becoming a member her strong faith and testimony of Jesus Christ continued to grow. She loved serving in the scouting, children and youth programs. It was rumored the Kleck home had the best youth parties, it was probably the big soda fountain in the family room!
For 63 wonderful years Betty was married to Neil S. Kleck (1927-2012) and due to her love of Tootsie Rolls she was forever his “tootsie”. They were the parents of Marlys, Denise Pond (Lamar), Cheryl Hubbard (Doug), 29 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. We’re grateful for Betty’s joyous reunion with her beloved Neil.
A memorial grave-side service will be held Saturday, February 29, 2020, 11:00am at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery & Mortuary, 719 North 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009.
Betty was a great lover of her furry 4-footed children and over the years had many cats and dogs. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Betty’s favorite charity, The Arizona Humane Society at: azhumane.org.
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