Betty Louise Rodgers

Betty Louise (Kitchen) Rodgers was born on Sept. 5, 1930 in Chickasha, OK to Audie and Eva (Duncan) Kitchen, with older sister Marge also welcoming her arrival. After graduating from Chickasha High School in 1948, Betty began her long working career. In 1950, she and Jack Rodgers were married and soon moved to Okla. City, where their only child, son Clint, was born in April of 1959.

In 1954, Betty accepted a job at Harry Mortgage Company, which later became Midland Mortgage Co. (and eventually, MidFirst Bank). With only 5 employees, she essentially functioned as the entire Foreclosure department! This was the beginning of Betty’s journey as an early pioneer for businesswomen in a completely male-dominated corporate world. Years later, she amusingly recalled sending written correspondence under the signature of ‘B.L. Rodgers’ so the recipient would be more apt to take the message seriously.

During her 50-year career at Midland and MidFirst, Betty worked by the side of company President and later Chairman George Records, as the company grew from just a handful of employees to over 1,000 at the time of her retirement in early 2005. During the 1970s and early 1980s, she played an important role in taking a company subsidiary public (Midland Mortgage Investors Trust) through the NYSE, and also the establishment of several mortgage loan production offices throughout the southwest. In 1981-82, she was instrumental in the establishment of the new MidFirst Savings and Loan entity, now known as MidFirst Bank.

During her long career, Betty was an active member of Executive Women International, serving as president of the Oklahoma City Chapter in 1982, and was also a founding member of the Charter 35 professional women’s organization. She also served as a valued mentor and highly esteemed example to countless members of younger generations who continue to apply the lessons they learned from this incredibly wise woman.

Also known for her profound intelligence and sharp wit, Betty often referred to her sense of humor as ‘overdeveloped’ and relished great conversation while regaling others with wonderful stories, sayings and observations. She was truly one of a kind.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Marge Strecker; her husband, Jack and their son, Clint; her beloved second husband, Doyle Johnson; niece Barbara Mitchell; and nephew Eric Strecker.

She is survived by nieces, Charlotte Rutherford (Glenn) and Patricia Lama; great nephews Rivers Rutherford (Ali), Michael Mitchell and Phil Mitchell (Carrie); and great nieces Sally Moriarty (Bill), Tonya Abbott, Dannah Lane, Dori Fenenbock (Mark) and Dawn Gopin (Michael). She is also survived by great-great nephews and nieces Maggie Riser (Hayes), CC Young (James), Rhys Rutherford, Coleman Rutherford, Molly Bates (Isaac), Will Moriarty and Charlotte Moriarty; and also Campbell Freed and Laney Freed, to whom she was a beloved ‘GiGi.’

She is also survived by her ‘chosen daughter’ Teri Dark Hunter (Jim), in addition to Tom Apel (Karie) and Art McGowen (Cindy) whom she also considered as her own. Betty made many good friends over the years, the closest of whom include the late Barbara Allee, Bob Allee, Robert Angelo, Ginger Armstrong (Fred), Linda Carpenter, Monica Collier, Jami Cravens (Mark), Irma Elliott, Betty K. Fletcher, Richard Howell (Carolyn), Helen Noriega (Jorge), Frank Olney, Margaret Pate (Collier), Susan Regier, Gayle Ruffin, Sylvia Shirley, Natalee Stansberry (Joseph), LaRue Stoller (Bill), Mary Deane Streich, Linda Whittington, Patty Williams, among so many others.

After a private interment, a celebration of Betty’s life will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. with a reception to follow at the funeral home.

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 15:57, NLT