It is with a very heavy heart that we mourn the passing of a lady who was never without a project, whose laughter was contagious, and whom we will miss very much.
Norma Faye Bettes Roberts, passed away on Saturday morning, January 27, 2024, at Springfield Villa Care Center in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 91.
She was born on November 5, 1932, in Roby, Missouri, to Ransome Williams and Lilly Stevenson Williams. Norma attended and graduated from Plato High School in Plato, Missouri.
Norma was united in marriage to Woodrow Bettes, and to this union 5 children were born: Betty June, Peggy Joan, Steven, Randall, and Kathryn Ann. They remained together until Woodrow’s passing in 1985.
She was saved at an early age and was a member of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Bolivar.
Norma started her working career in Ft. Leonard Wood as a pay clerk. She remained business oriented with a strong work ethic by owning and operating her own custom drapery and upholstery shop. She later became a part of Sears and Roebuck in Lebanon, where she worked her way up to manager, and later became owner of the Sears franchise in Lebanon, retiring in 1993.
After her retirement, Norma was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Roberts and moved to Bob’s farm in Bolivar. They remained together until Bob’s passing in 2022.
Norma dearly loved her family and church and was always happy to help others. She passed down to the generations she left behind an outstanding work ethic and strong family values. Norma had numerous hobbies; she loved gardening, china painting, and traveling. She loved the lake and spending time in her kitchen cooking for family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, both spouses, daughters Betty June and Peggy Joan and two sisters, Eula Mae Vaughn and Audrey Vaughn.
Norma is survived by her 3 children; Steve Bettes and wife Jan, Randall Bettes and wife Jo, and Kathryn Jolin and husband Charles; 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren; two brothers, Larry Williams and Charles Dean Williams; and her sister Jean Wade. Norma is also survived by numerous children and grandchildren that became family to her through her marriage to Bob.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar.
A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the funeral home from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Interment will follow at Mount Rose Memorial Park in Lebanon, Missouri on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 3:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Norma’s favorite charity, The National MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society.
