Bettie Lee Newton

May 26, 1924 - August 17, 2020

Bettie Lee Newton (Irwin), 96, of Shawnee, KS, passed away Monday, August 17, 2020, at her home. The family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. She was born May 26, 1924 in Kansas City, KS the daughter of Robert and Iris (Hill) Irwin. Bettie was about ten years old when her mother died. Growing up in the depression era, her father then leaned on his mother (Bettie’s grandmother) to raise her. Bettie remembered doing much of the hard labor in the home and having to steal food from the neighbors for her younger sister and herself. When her grandmother, Minnie, passed, Bettie and her sister, Bonnie, were left to be looked after by her Aunt Helen. Her brother was old enough to take care of himself. She grew to be quite self-sufficient and was fiercely independent until dying in her own Shawnee home surrounded by loved ones. At eighteen years of age Bettie went to work for the war effort building B-25 bombers. Later, she raised her five children as a single mother while working for International Paper and expected them all to be independent as well. Bettie never stopped pinching her pennies and when she retired from International Paper in 1989 after 26 years of service she was immensely proud to be able to purchase her Shawnee home with one cash payment. Bettie wasn’t the most outwardly affectionate woman, and it was hard for even family to feel close to her. If you shared good news with her, she often bragged about another family member (keeping you from getting a big head), but you could be assured to know she would be sharing your good news with the rest of the family. She loved children, all animals, pretty rocks (gems and jewelry), bright colors, and the great outdoors (especially birds, butterflies and flowers). Bettie was preceded in death by both of her siblings, Robert and Bonnie. Bettie is survived by her five children; Ronald (Janis), Rodger, Robin, Barbara, and Randall (Peggy); at least 18 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Her mind stayed sharp until the end, able to recite poems she learned when she was young. Her lineage goes back to the early settlement of “The New World” with soldiers in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. She can claim relation to the first governor of Kansas and is proud that her children can claim relation to Sir Issac Newton. A lot of family history is now gone with Bettie Newton. She will be forever loved and missed by so many of us.