Betty Ann Kirchenschlager

Betty Ann Weeks Kirchenschlager--born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, on December 6, 1933 to Loyal and Doris Barnett Weeks—she departed this simple world and entered the KINGDOM of GOD on August 23, 2018. 

At a young age, along with her older sister Bonnie Weeks Lyon, and their parents, Betty left Nebraska and landed in Yuma, Colorado. This was where her younger brothers Keith and Lynn were welcomed into the family. Like many others of this generation, she went to one of the great, one-room country schools of Northeast Colorado. Here she had many wonderful memories of riding horses and walking to school.  Perhaps, her favorite memory was when a neighbor picked her up in his Model A - the beginning of the rest of her life.  Dale lived just a few miles from Betty; he was the young man driving the Model A. They had been in school together since Betty was in the second grade. From this moment on, they shared many rides in that Model A. Betty was active as a young girl in 4-H and was later a drum majorette while in high school. She graduated from Yuma Union High School in 1951.

Betty married the love of her life, Dale, on March 29, 1953. In the following year, the first of four children and their only daughter entered the family. Tena Kay was born January 3, 1954. Shortly after, Dale was drafted into the Army and stationed in California. Betty and Tena, who was only a few weeks old, with a friend decided to follow and drove to California. Betty often spoke of this trip through the mountains- in the cold of the winter - in the same Model A with a small baby as, “maybe being one of the dumbest things she ever did!” After making it, they  found Dale and lived on the base for a short time. Then, like all military personnel they were transferred here, there, and yonder. Soon, due to health issues with Betty’s father-in-law, they all moved back to the family farm northeast of Yuma in 1955.

The family began to grow with the addition of three sons--Jay Bea (August 11, 1956), Daniel Lee (February 8, 1958), and Roger Dale (March 3, 1960). As a mother she was the greatest and godliest, she was forgiving, she was a saint! These traits were shown on many occasions when the phone would ring and immediately her plans were changed.  But, more than that, Betty was the best friend and hired hand that this land ever had! She milked the cows; a chore that she says she got pretty good at as a child; slopped the hogs, took care of the thousands of chickens; processing even more when the neighbors would bring their chickens over in a stock trailer. You could find her right beside Dale, driving the tractor, combine, or the farm truck until they moved to town. Most importantly she raised four of the best kids ever!! 

In 1970 she was born again and made Jesus her Savior. From then on her passion for sharing God’s love was evident in every interaction she had with those around her. She started teaching at New Life Academy when it first came about where she worked doing anything and everything to get the young and old alike educated on the Word of God. In 1983, the farm was sold; and Betty and Dale moved to their new home in Yuma in 1986.

This new home, overflowing with love, welcomed grandchildren Renee, Brandon (Tena), Amber, Mallori (Danny), Korie, Dakota (JB), Tate and Trevor (Roger); and then great-grandchildren Kendall, Molly, Kyler, Braxton, Kasen, Brylyn, and Henley all who became a huge part of Betty’s life.  Betty was very proud of her family and did her best to go to as many of their activities as possible. With all of the rodeos, ballgames, and extracurricular functions that she attended, her family and heart continued to grow. Everybody knew Betty as “Grandma,” she even had many come and ask, “What is your real name?” The love for God, her husband, and family, are the legacy that Grandma leaves behind for everybody.

Doing for the family was a great part of Betty’s life – family dinners, branding picnics, meals in the field, how many RMO’s did she fry for FFA! Playing cards with family and friends then later in life if you stopped by you would find Grandma and Grandpa putting a puzzle together. She enjoyed watching rodeos and the Rockies always keeping score sheets and player lists. Betty’s travels were mostly trips with family to visit family or another RODEO.  The last trip she and Dale went on together was this past May to Florida a memorable trip for all - you do not get thru the security gates at DIA without some form of identification Grandma did not have any  identification!  I wonder if she had to have identification to get thru the Pearly Gates!!   Betty didn’t know a stranger. It did not matter where she was or who you were, Betty always had a hug and a scripture to share. She led multiple bible studies at many locations throughout her 84 years. She has touched more lives than we will ever know.

Dale and Betty’s love for each other only strengthened and everywhere they went, they went hand in hand. Their marriage was a marriage that their children, grandchildren, and friends all aim for. Betty was half of Dale’s heart and Dale was half of Betty’s. They were connected through everything they did and this showed through them holding hands wherever they went, whether they were walking 20 feet or 2 miles. They were so much two parts of one whole, that they even had their knees replaced together. It was more than just the normal doing everything together. It was, “I wash. You dry.” It was, “I’ll have what you want.” It was Genesis 2:24 in real life, “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Betty entered the Kingdom of God READY and WILLING.  Those waiting for her at the Pearly Gates were her parents, Dale’s parents, younger brother Lynn, her son Danny, grandson Brandon, and many other family members and friends. Oh, what a celebration that must have been!!

Here on Earth waiting to see her again are her husband, of 65 years, Dale, Tena (Mike) McCaslin, Jay Bea, Danny’s wife Kindi, Roger (Tammy), grandchildren and great grandchildren, many other family members and a host of friends..

We love you, Grandma.

 A funeral service was held on August 28, 2018 at the New Life Christian Church in Eckley, Colorado at 2:00P.M. and interment followed at the Yuma Cemetery.  Pastor Greg Kline officiated the service and Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. 

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