Betty Carpenter, 93 – and one of the most beautiful souls to inhabit planet earth – has taken up residency in heaven. She passed on Friday, May 14.

Betty spent her childhood on a farm near Lanark, Illinois. She married Randal Carpenter in 1946, and their life journey took them from Lanark to Pearl City, to Winslow, to Orangeville, to Freeport … first as farmers, then as employees of Newell Companies in Freeport. The couple had five children, and while Betty gave birth to five, she is a mother to many. She was generous with her love and attention, seeing and celebrating the good in everyone she met. There are nieces and nephews and friends around the world who call her Mom.

A woman ahead of her time, Betty worked at Newell for more than 25 years, retiring as Credit Manager in 1993. She was a founding member of the original Pantsuit Nation. In retirement, she worked as a receptionist for Freeport Journal Standard. She was active in her church, and also an activist, advocating for gay rights, gender equality, and approaching all people with love. She was undaunted by technology, and when Covid-19 forced older citizens to shelter away from family and friends for far too long, Betty stayed connected through frequent FaceTime calls and weekly (at least) Zoom calls with her family. Her iPad and iPhone were perpetually at her side – if not in her hands – to email, text message, and manage her FaceBook account.

Everyone who knew Betty will quickly confirm that she embodied all that Christianity – and the tenets of all faiths – are intended to express. She was kind, loving, tolerant, inclusive, unselfish, peaceful, generous, an amazing listener. On one particular Sunday, her church congregation was asked to show up "dressed as your favorite Christian." Important to note here that Betty was fond of wearing hats as a statement of style and personality. No surprise then, that upon entering the church, one could see many, many women wearing hats in honor of their favorite Christian. That's Betty.

Her five children talk frequently about the many gifts of the heart they received from Betty. They also compare and contrast the unique ways she dealt with and communicated to each of them. Greg Carpenter (Larilyn), first born, was her favorite person with whom to talk politics, current events, life, music, children and (great) grandchildren. Kevin Carpenter (Cathy), was loved for his strength and commitment. On her iPhone is a video of him outside her window at Heritage Woods during a snow storm filling bird feeders, which gave her immense joy. Also on her iPhone are countless pictures of Kevin and Cathy's two kids and eight grandchildren. Marvin Carpenter (Evelyn), gave her spiritual fuel, a comforting place to explore the parameters of faith, and the delight of two grandchildren and a great grandchild, Lila, who Betty spent the first year with on Zoom and Facebook. Lisa Young (Tom), was Betty's rock and a tremendous source of comfort through sickness and health. Lisa was almost always the first phone call when Betty wanted help or simply to chat or discuss her two beloved grandsons (and newly acquired step grandchildren). Cheri Carpenter (John Hurd), was Betty's go-to "glass half full" companion, consulted whenever Betty wanted to ponder the things that made her happy: God's love, Biden's victory, Fall leaves, or a grandson and daughter. Note: In this paragraph, sons- and daughters-in-law are mentioned parenthetically, but they were as essential to Betty as her biological children, and often her favorite family members, including the late Harvin Giedd, and Melissa Daniels.

The story of Betty Carpenter cannot be written without several chapters dedicated to her husband Randal, and the union of the two. Married for 65 years (Randal passed in February of 2012), the couple's love and friendship were legendary … an inspiration to their children and a lesson in steadfast commitment for all who knew them. They were largely inseparable, but on those occasions when they were apart, the joy of every reunion was evident on their faces. They lit up the room when they were together again. They took on life with a determined love, and they embraced joys and confronted challenges as a duo. A classic case of the whole being far stronger than the sum of its remarkable parts.

Betty was the daughter of Cloyd and Elsebelle Sturtz of Lanark, Illinois. In addition to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is survived by her sister Donagene Breshock (Ray), of Hammond, Indiana, and her sister-in-law Mildred Sturtz of Lanark. She is preceded in death by her brothers Edward Sturtz (Virginia), and Ronnie Sturtz, and sister Dorothea Baker (Woodrow).

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 16th at the Krape Park Band Shelter in Freeport, Illinois at 11am.  There will be a lunch following the ceremony at the picnic shelter next to the band shell.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to the charity of your choice in Betty's name and if you can, please copy mcarpenter102351@gmail.com .