Betty Joan Bean Schroeder

Betty Joan Bean Schroeder, 99, of Maple Hill, Kansas passed away on February 23, 2024. She was born in Manhattan, Kansas on May 29, 1924. She was preceded in death by her parents George Ford "Jimmy" and Johanna "Jennie" (Kraus) Bean, her older brothers James C. and Donald M., her fraternal twin brother Bill Jean; and by her husband Loren Dayle Schroeder. As a child she lived in Manhattan and north of Topeka, but spent much of her childhood on the family farm outside of Alma along Hendricks Creek. She attended a rural grade school built by her grandfather Charles Dudley Bean, and high school in Alma. Upon graduating high school, Betty worked for the Sante Fe Railroad in Topeka to earn money to attend nursing school. She entered Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Topeka in 1943 and graduated in 1946.

Betty was working at the VA hospital in Topeka where she met the love of her life. Betty and Loren were married in Nashville on December 31, 1949 and settled in Washington DC where Loren worked for the government and Betty worked as a nurse until their first child was born. Three years later they moved to Chicago where Loren entered seminary, and Betty attempted to corral four rambunctious children while living in a dormitory apartment. The family later moved to Iowa where Betty worked as a school nurse, and then Minnesota where she worked part time in a nursing home. After their children left home, Betty and Loren returned to Kansas in 1975 where they built their house in Maple Hill and Loren served as a hospital chaplain in Topeka. During this time Betty volunteered at the Memorial Hospital gift shop and spent many happy hours gardening at their new home. Betty and Loren embarked on many adventures after Loren retired, first hiking the Appalachian Trail as the Kansas Kids, and later exploring Scotland where they hiked the Highland Way and visited the ancestral MacBean clan lands on the shores of Loch Ness. Betty also traveled with Loren around the lower 48 states and to Alaska, taking time to visit children and grandchildren along the way. Betty was a great supporter of the K-State women's basketball team. She was an avid reader of mysteries, an accomplished seamstress and knitter, and had a green thumb with houseplants, especially African violets.

Betty was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and she will be dearly missed. She lived independently in her Maple Hill house after Loren died in 2016, and was greatly helped by the drivers of Wabaunsee County public transportation and the kindness of neighbors. She is survived by three sons and spouses Mark (Laurel), Kirk (Carol), Kevin, and daughter Gina Carpenter; eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

A private family celebration will be held at a future date.

Donations in Betty's honor may be made to Wabaunsee County Transportation, PO Box 278, Alma, KS 66401.