Betty Dell Kirk was born October 4, 1925, to Clyde M. and Ruth Kindred Kirk of Rural Plattsburg, Clinton County, MO. Prior to enrollment in a rural elementary school located near the Kirk family farm, Betty was tutored by her mother, a former school teacher of English and speech.
Betty graduated from the Plattsburg High School in 1942 at the age of 16 years, as valedictorian of her senior class. She then attended the former Christian College for Young Women in Columbia, MO. Betty then enrolled at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and spent her first year teaching in the public high school in Galesburg, IL.
In 1946, Betty relocated to New York City and enrolled in the School of Education at Columbia University where she earned a Master Degree in secondary education. During this time, she was a high school teacher in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, NY.
In 1947, Betty Kirk married Charles Riley, a native of Texas and a former classmate at Northwestern University. Their only child, Andrew Maurice Riley, now deceased, was born in July 1948. In 1958, Betty and her son Andy joined Charles Riley in Los Angeles, CA where he was engaged in the profession of music and drama.
Betty continued to teach secondary education in Los Angeles until Andy graduated from Los Angeles High School with honors and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
In the mid-1960s, Betty returned to Missouri to assist her mother with the care of her terminally ill father. After his death, Betty relocated to Missouri to care for her disabled mother. She then became employed in Kansas City, MO, in secretarial positions for Kansas City insurance companies. She later became employed in customer service and employee training in the banking industry in Kansas City, MO. As a graduate of the American Institute of Banking, she held several banking positions and served as a leader in state and national banking associations.
Upon retirement, Betty became an active volunteer both in Kansas City, MO, and later in the retirement community of Foxwood Springs in Raymore, MO, serving as a caregiver for her invalid mother and others.
In December 1972, Betty married Ivan Waite, then a resident and an appointed official of the city of Kansas City, MO. In September, 1997, Betty and Ivan relocated to the Foxwood Springs retirement community in the city of Raymore, MO.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her son. She is survived by her husband Ivan L. Waite; cousins Geraldine Frye Hall, Page Kirk Campbell, Joanne Durham Spriggs; stepchildren Kristi Ann Waite (R. Kim) Richman, Kim Waite (Gary) Armentrout and Kevin Lee Waite (Cheryl). Betty is also survived by six adult step-granddaughters and one step-grandson, six step-great-granddaughters, and three step-great-grandsons.
Betty’s survivors are very appreciative of the compassionate care she has received from the staff and management of Brookdale Foxwood Springs, Research Belton Medical Center and Crossroads Hospice.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Fellowship of John at Foxwood Springs, P.O. Box 701, Raymore, MO 64083; or to the St. Paul United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 377, Raymore, MO 64093, or to Crossroads Hospice.
A Memorial Service for Betty K. Waite will be held at 2:30 P.M., Sunday June 24, 2018, in Bromwell Lounge at Brookdale Foxwood Springs Living Center, 500 N. Mott Dr., Raymore MO.
At Betty’s prior request, her remains have been donated to the Department of Anatomy, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
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