Elizabeth Ann Betteridge

Elizabeth Ann Beckner Betteridge was born on August 25, 1932 to Claude and Arrena (Woods) Beckner. She grew up in Webster County, Missouri, graduating from Marshfield High School in 1950. She enrolled in Southwest Baptist College and earned her associate’s degree in 1952. While at Southwest Baptist College she met her husband Robert (Bob) Betteridge. They were married in 1952. They had two children, William (Bill) Betteridge and Karen Betteridge.

A long standing member of the community in Cooper County, Missouri she was a tireless contributor to the educational and historical landscape in the county. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia as well as her master’s degree and a specialist degree in education. She was the first Kindergarten teacher in Pilot Grove and continued in that role for 24 years. Afterwards she taught dedicated reading classes in Tipton and Otterville, Missouri. Since 1986, she has been a member of Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a women educator's organization. In 1989, she co-founded the Cooper County Historical Society with her friend and neighbor, Florence (Winky) Friedrichs. The society was originally founded to fund the creation of a book of local history aimed at fourth graders. This book, Discover Cooper County, by Looking Back was authored by Ann and illustrated by Winky. Since its creation, it has been personally distributed to each fourth grader in Cooper County, by Ann, herself.

Her passion for historic preservation was also seen in her restoration of the Betteridge family home, Crestmead. During the time she lived at Crestmead, she gave tours of the historic home built in 1857 to hundreds of tour groups. After a devastating fire in 2008 she was primarily responsible for restoring the home to its former glory. In 2012 she received the Preserve Missouri Award from Missouri Preservation for this work.

She was a member of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church for over sixty years and a Sunday School teacher. She was an active member of DAR and UDC and numerous other community activities.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Surviving family includes her two children, William (Diane) Betteridge and Karen Betteridge, her three grandchildren, Lucy Betteridge, Bobby Plaster and Mary (Kaylan) Cassil, and two great grandchildren, Ada and Thomas Cassil.

The Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7, 2020 at Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Pilot Grove, Missouri from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral will be held at 10 AM on Saturday February 8, 2020 at the First Baptist Church, Otterville, Missouri. Suggested memorial donations to Mt. Nebo Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be submitted at www.meisenheimerfuneralhome.com.

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