Alice Elizabeth “Betty” North died at 9:20 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
North was born April 26, 1922, in Kokomo, Indiana, to Hazel and Albert Winslow. She married Willard Eugene North on Aug. 20, 1948, in Hannibal, Missouri. He preceded her in death in August of 1989.
She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter Amy North, and her brother Robert (Fran) Winslow. She is survived by one brother, William (Mary) Winslow and her four children: Kendra (Jerry) Brandes, Lynn (Jim) Locklear, Michele Easterling and Don (Linda) North. Also surviving Betty are eight grandchildren: Nicholous North, Kendra (Frank) Ordia, Karen (Joe) Choi, Greg Locklear, Joshua Brandes, Jeffrey (Brianna) Brandes, Elise Easterling and Sara Easterling; plus six grandchildren including Elizabeth, William and Wesley North, and Owen, Isaac and Micah Choi.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, double majoring in chemistry and microbiology. While studying at the university during World War II, she worked with the War Production Board rubber research program and later in the rare earth research program affiliated with atomic energy research for the Manhattan Project. Upon graduation she held a position as a bacteriologist for Oscar-Meyer in Madison, Wisconsin, working primarily in quality control research. Her career also included research positions in the agricultural chemistry lab at Purdue University and in the animal nutrition lab at the University of Arkansas.
When the family moved to Warrensburg in 1960, she turned her attention to community service and spent many years in positions with the Girl Scouts, the Johnson County Historical Society and Powell Gardens.
She was very creative and had accomplishments in painting, jewelry making, lapidary work and stained glass. She loved flowers and gardening, reading and crossword puzzles. Her love of nature and adventure was shared with her children, and they hold many memories of camping, canoeing, hiking, and trips to museums and beaches. She provided a home that was happily cluttered. She didn’t mind having silkworms spinning cocoons on the dining room drapes, camping gear in the living room and canoes being refinished in the backyard. Her legacy to her family is one of adventure and fun.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Powell Gardens and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home.