Betty Mae Hodgins

Betty Mae Hodgins, 88, of Westmoreland, Kansas, died at her home on Thursday, September 2, 2021. She had been a member of the community for twenty years.

Betty was born on May 5, 1933, in Wamego, the daughter of Loren and Mary (Duncan) Picolet. She was raised in Frankfort and graduated from Frankfort High School.

Betty married Harvey Ogden and only after a short time, he was killed in a logging accident. Betty then married Virgil Keller. They lived in Riley until they later divorced. She then married Billy Hodgins and moved to Mississippi. They also were later divorced.

Betty spent many years as a homemaker. She also cleaned houses for local area families and was a waitress at the Calico Inn in Riley. While living in Mississippi, Betty drove thirty miles to attend Beauty School and graduated as a licensed Beautician at the age of fifty. She ran her own shop and did hair in her home while there. Betty then moved back to Kansas.

Betty loved to dance, and she loved to sing. For a short time she sang and played in a local band. She also played bass guitar. She enjoyed gardening, loved all animals, but especially her pet dog, Dolly and her cat, Bernie. Betty was very independent and frugal. Even after losing her eyesight in the last years of her life, she insisted on living in her own home, and did so very successfully.

Betty is survived by her children; Amber Shuman, Manhattan, Aaron Keller (Anestatia), Westmoreland, and Joe Keller, St. George; her grandchildren, Tyler Keller, Wichita, Blake Keller, Kansas City, Missouri, Bryan Keller, Lawrence, Sarah Denning (Sean) South Korea, and Holden Moyer (Brianna), Jacksonville, Florida, and her great-grandchildren, Gemma, Poppy, and Arlo; her siblings, Merle Picolet, Davenport, Iowa, Jim Picolet (Connie), Frankfort, Darlene Nemecheck (Elaine Griebel), Falls City, Nebraska, and Judy Fleeker (Charles), Manhattan. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Dean Picolet, Marvin Picolet, Dale Picolet, and Dorothy Simons.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. The family will greet friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 am. They suggest memorial contributions to a charity of the donor’s choice, and those may be sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com.