Betty Jean House, 94, of Columbia, IL passed away at home with
family by her side on July 23rd, 2024.
Betty was born at home on January 16th, 1930 in Washington
Park, IL. She was the daughter of Walter and Julia (Krost)
Klemme. Betty was set up on a blind date by friends and it went
so well they got married. She married her first and only love,
Robert E. House, in 1951 and they enjoyed 43 years together,
until his death in 1994. Surviving are three children, Janine (Fred)
Weisenborn of Phillipsburg, MO, Marjorie (Michael) Schwartz of
Columbia, IL and Walter (Jodie) House of Columbia, IL; her
daughter-in-law Christine House of Columbia, IL; eleven
grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She was
preceded in death by her husband Robert, her son Robert J.
House of Columbia, IL, her parents and five siblings.
Betty was a graduate of East St. Louis High School, attended
University of Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois
University Edwardsville. She worked for Monsanto as a chemist.
She also obtained her teaching certificate and taught fourth grade
and later was a substitute teacher.
Betty and her husband founded Archview Metal Systems in 1989
where she served as president until her retirement. She was a
member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, IL,
lending her voice to the choir on Sunday mornings. She was an
avid bridge player, hosting games up to a few days before her
death. She was a cunning card and board game player, never
holding back for a win, even against family. She was a talented
quilter, sewed her daughters dresses when they were young,
made intricate cross-stitchings and wrote a book at 93 years old.
Betty was a world traveler, seeing five continents during her
lifetime. She rode camels in Egypt, walked the Great Wall of
China, cruised the Gulf of Finland to Russia, hiked the Outback of
Australia and sailed through the Panama Canal. Her travels in
Europe were extensive, going on several tours and to Paris for
the 1999-2000 Y2K change-over. She saw almost all of the fifty
states, but most loved were her many, many trips to Hawai'i
where she often brought her family along.
Betty was kind, very generous and a great mentor to her children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her family was blessed to
have her in their lives for such a long and meaningful time. She
stayed sharp as a tack until the end. She will be sorely missed
and never forgotten. Her family would like to extend a special
thanks to Hospice of Southern Illinois and her caretakers.
A graveside burial ceremony will be held Friday, July 26th, 2024
at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, IL.
Memorials may be made to Columbia Public Library or Hospice of
Southern Illinois.