Betty Joyce Ritter

Betty Ritter, a woman of remarkable grace and enduring spirit, passed away on September 19, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and an infectious zest for life.

Betty was born on February 19, 1930 to Austin Ellsworth and Vida Marie (Fuson) Williams.

She was brought to Oklahoma at the age of six. Betty's early years were spent in country school, where she forged the foundations of her education and thirst for knowledge. She continued her studies at Beaver High School.

During her teenage years, Betty met Junior, one of her father's hired hands, on a trip custom-cutting wheat all the way to South Dakota. Their love story unfolded on the dance floor, and they married in 1948, one week after she graduated. Betty and Junior embarked on a journey of love that lasted 52 years.

As a young wife and mother of five, Betty helped support the family by cooking at local restaurants. Her cooking was legendary, and she delighted in hosting holiday gatherings and Sunday feasts for her family as long as she was able. At the age of 36, she put herself through beauty school, which marked the beginning of a successful 37-year hairdressing career. Her proudest achievement was building her own salon as an independent career woman. In her leisure time, Betty enjoyed playing pitch and dominoes and tackling crossword puzzles. Betty was a voracious reader, and history was her passion. She loved gardening, sewing, and dancing.

A hip injury in her late 80s brought her dancing days to an end. She spent her later years in a nursing home, where she became an energetic fixture in all the social activities. Even in her golden years, she was a woman of striking beauty, and her quick wit never faded.

Betty leaves behind a legacy of love that extends to her daughters, Delores (Gerald) Jones, Jane (Henry, Jr) Lubbers, Karan (Rod) Yates, and Vida (Oscar) Cano, and to her extensive family tree, which includes numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She joins her parents, Austin and Vida Williams, her brothers Darrell (Blackie) Williams and Keith Williams, her husband Vernon Ritter, Jr., her son Vernon Ritter, III, her grandson Willie Barby, and great-granddaughter Emily Cano in the embrace of eternity.

As we remember Betty, let us celebrate a life marked by love, laughter, and the determined spirit that made her an inspiration to us all. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor her by donating to your local library. May we all get out there and dance.