Obituaries

Betty Lou Johnson Hansen Stephens was born on June 3, 1931 in Sioux City, Iowa. She died peacefully surrounded by her children on August 15, 2022 at Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, Texas. She was the daughter of Ingward Carl Johnson and Martha Hansen Johnson, who died in childbirth. “Betty Lou,” as her Iowa family and friends knew her, was adopted by her maternal grandparents, Bergetta Petersen Hansen and Marten Hansen, who raised her on their Bronson, Iowa farmstead, along with Martha’s sisters, Ellen, Julia, Edith, Mable, and Florence. Betty Lou was the center of the family’s attention, who instilled in her a great pride of her Danish heritage as both Betty’s maternal and paternal grandparents immigrated from Denmark.

A graduate of Bronson High School, Betty played basketball, was a member of the school band, served as editor of the school newspaper, and was a class officer. She received her Associates Degree at Morningside College and graduated from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, both in Sioux City, Iowa. She met her husband, George Raymond Stephens, Jr. while working at the University of Iowa Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa, where he was an OB/GYN resident. Ray always ate ice cream at the end of each day, and he knew that he had found his mate when a cute nurse with big brown eyes offered him ice cream to enjoy after his evening rounds. Betty sealed the deal when she asked Ray to teach her to play golf. On July 29, 1956 they were married in Sioux City, Iowa at the Methodist Hospital Chapel. As Ray had been called to active duty in the United States Air Force, they spent their honeymoon in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri on their way to Montgomery, Alabama, where Ray completed basic training. He was then stationed as a medical officer at Pepperrell Air Force Base in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where their first child, Susan, was born.

After completing military service, Betty and Ray returned to Iowa City where their second child, Martha, was born. Following his residency graduation in 1960, Betty and Ray decided to settle in Sherman, Texas to raise their growing family, where John and David soon were born. Betty was graciously welcomed to Ray’s home town and quickly became involved with numerous groups and organizations that embraced her life’s two passions: church and children. As a young mother, Betty helped to establish a student nursing organization at Sherman High School and was a Head Start, Camp Fire and Cub Scout leader. While her sons were students at Dillingham Middle School, Betty was the volunteer school nurse. Once her children were older, she and two dear friends organized and founded Grayson County Juvenile Alternatives, now the North Texas Youth Connection. Betty remained actively involved as a leader of the organization for almost 30 years. She also served on many boards including Child Protective Services, United Way, Home Hospice of Grayson County, Needlework Guild, Tuesday Study Club, and the League of Women Voters. Betty received recognition for her service to many organizations in her adopted home town, and was named the Woman of the Year by the American Association of University Women. In 2012, Betty and Ray were one of the recipients of the Each Moment Matters Award given by the Presbyterian Communities and Services Foundation of Dallas. Betty and Ray were involved with all aspects of Austin College life, especially interactions with students, faculty and trustees. Their strong belief in the value of a liberal arts education resulted in the establishment of student scholarships supporting international study at Austin College.

Betty’s life-long Christian faith began at a very young age when a neighbor offered to take her to Sunday School at the Elliot Creek Presbyterian Church in Bronson. She was a long-time, faithful member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, previously First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Ruling Elder. For over 60 years Betty had many roles at her much-beloved church, from Sunday School teacher to President of the Women of the Church, and hosted many youth suppers and events, as well as after- church luncheons for Austin College students. She and Ray also welcomed international students from Austin College into their home over the Christmas holidays when students were unable to travel to their home countries. More recently, Betty spent time calling and visiting home-bound church members and coordinating monthly luncheons for those living at The Renaissance in Sherman.

Betty had many interests, including art, listening to music, travel, needlework, and cookbooks, but she especially loved to read--usually with the comfort of a cat on her lap. In her later years, she became the unofficial cat rescue on Western Hills where neighborhood children would bring her stray kittens that they had found--but their parents wouldn’t let them keep!

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her “sister-aunts,” and her husband, Ray. Survivors include: daughters, Susan Stephens of Dallas, Texas and Martha Stephens of Chatham, Massachusetts; sons, John Stephens of Grafton, Massachusetts and David Stephens and his wife Sharon, of Pilot Point, Texas; grandson Nicholas, his wife Brynn and their son and Betty’s great-grandson, Wyatt, of Frisco, Texas; and granddaughter Jordan Dreasher and her husband Eric, of Farmer’s Branch, Texas; and their mother, Stephanie Stephens of McKinney, Texas. She is also survived by her cousin Adeline Robinson of Lawton, Iowa, nephew Stephen Cherry of Denison, Texas, and nieces Elisabeth Wright of Centerville, Utah and Catherine Wenger of Buda, Texas.

A visitation will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19 at Dannel Funeral Home, 302 South Walnut Street in Sherman. Betty’s Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 322 West Pecan Street in Sherman, and will be officiated by the Rev. Dr. John Williams, Austin College Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. Following the service, a reception will be held in Wharton Fellowship Hall.

A private family burial service was previously held at West Hill Cemetery in Sherman. Serving as pallbearers were John Stephens, David Stephens, Nicholas Stephens, and Stephen Cherry. The family would like to thank Home Instead caregivers Rebecca Bezner, Fatou Coker-Singhateh, Theresa Graham, Laura Omilade, Lisa Prince, and Charlotte White for providing Betty with loving friendship and compassionate care. Betty’s family would also like to express its appreciation to Ben Migrino and Jennifer Dixon of Faith Presbyterian Hospice for providing Betty with comfort, kindness, and beautiful music during her final days.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Texas Youth Connection, 1602 E. Lamar Street, Sherman, TX 75090, Covenant Presbyterian Pre-School Scholarship Fund, 322 W. Pecan Street, Sherman TX 75090, Stephens Family International Studies Scholarship Fund at Austin College, 900 North Grand Avenue, Sherman, TX 75090, or to the donor’s favorite charity.

You can sign the online guest registry at: www.dannelfuneralhome.com