Betty Jean Keller, 87, of Taylor, Nebraska died May 20, 2021 at her home.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at the Assembly of God Church in Taylor, Nebraska. Pastor Brad Keller and Pastor Mike Carl will officiate. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Children’s Home. Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Jean Keller was born to Albert and Eleanor (Mansfield) Lewis at their home north of Taylor. Being the oldest she learned responsibility early and that chores were a part of life. She attended Lone Star through the eight years of elementary school and graduated from Taylor High School in 1951.
Betty spent several years teaching in rural schools. She loved these years! She found that success in teaching came through caring and love. She met her husband, Elmer Keller, while teaching in Cherry County. They were married on May 31, 1959. Shortly after they moved to the farm west of Taylor which has been their home for over 50 years.
Farming was interrupted for a couple of years while Elmer served in the military. Betty worked as a Doctor’s receptionist while they were stationed at Fort Riley.
Betty was a good helpmate. She helped with fieldwork and even learned to drive the straight truck. Especially challenging was the trip to Merna with wheat and the trip to North Loup with popcorn.
Betty and Elmer were blessed with a son, Brad, and a daughter, Beth. They became the focus of her life. Keeping up with school activities which included traipsing from one end of the state to the other for state finals, 4-H fun times, sports, and musical events.
Sunday School and teaching in the church was Betty’s gift. She began teaching Sunday School at the age of 18. She spent many hours studying and preparing for classes. She not only taught both of her children’s Sunday School classes but was her grandchildren’s Sunday School Teacher. She was also a youth leader in the church during the 1960s and taught her granddaughter’s MPact Girls classes.
Betty was most pleased that both Brad and Beth are both serving Jesus. Betty had accepted Jesus as her Savior at a young age and loved that her children were raising her grandchildren to know Jesus.
Betty is survived by two children, Brad and Kari Keller of Ozark, Missouri and Beth Keller-Ralls and her husband Greg Ralls of Taylor, Nebraska. Eight grandchildren Montanna, Elle, Noah, Joi, Ashlee, Michael, Jacob and Madde were each special to Betty in their own way. The addition of Michael as a grandson in law and great grandchildren Georgia, Benny and Mali have been a crowning jewel in her life. Three sisters, Shirley and Bob Birch of Millville, California, Cleo and Jerry Keith of Taylor, Nebraska and Claris Lewis of Kearney, Nebraska and a sister-in-law, Jeanette Lewis of Burwell, Nebraska.
Proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Elmer, brother Richard and grandson Jacob.
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