Betty Lou (Damm) Carothers

Betty Lou (Damm) Carothers, 73, of Topeka, died Sunday, March 17, 2013 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka, due to long term health complications.

Betty was born on January 8, 1940 at Lecompton, KS, the daughter of Ernest F. Damm and Mabel S. (Zeeb) Damm. She graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 1958 at Lecompton High School. She married Donald Lee Carothers on October 4, 1959 in Stull, KS. Together they raised a family and farmed in Northern Osage County for 30 years before moving to Topeka in November of 1999.

Betty was a member of the Berryton United Methodist Church, served on the Building Committee for the Family Life Center at the church, was very involved with the United Methodist Women's (UMW) activities at the district and local level, serving as a UMW Topeka District officer for six years, and serving as an officer and active member of the local chapter for over 20 years; best known for organizing and cooking for fund raising dinners at the church, the Kiwanis Club and the Berryton Alumni Banquet. She was also past President and Treasurer of Church Women United.

She is survived by her husband Donald, of the home; two children, Kathy Carothers, Collierville, TN and Harlan (Kris) Carothers, Scranton, KS; two grandsons Tyler Carothers, Scranton, KS and Hayden Carothers, Lawrence, KS; one brother, Charles (Joyce) Damm, Marysville, CA and one sister, Norma (Robert) Lynch, Tecumseh, KS.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Berryton United Methodist Church, 7010 SE Berryton Road, Berryton, KS 66409. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery southeast of Topeka. Betty will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00-7:30 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Betty Lou Carothers to the Berryton United Methodist Church or Midland Care – Topeka Hospice House, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.