Betty Lee Olmsted, 93, of Parsons, passed away at 10:35 p.m., Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor where she had resided since 2017.
She was born on December 13, 1926 8 miles southeast of Longton, Kansas to Paul & Mildred (Kimzey) Clark. Her parents divorced when 2 months old and didn’t know her father (who was living in Nebraska) until she was 22 years of age. She was raised 7 miles south of Longton and attended Frog Hollow School graduating as Valedictorian of the county.
She moved to Parsons in December 1944 and worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant assembling 105 mm shells on Line 2.
Betty married Richard D. “Dick” Olmsted of Mound Valley, KS on May 2, 1946 and moved to Ft. Peck, Montana where Dick worked on construction of the Fort Peck Dam, largest earth-filled dam in the world. Also lived in Wichita, KS, Albany, TX, Shoshoni and Laramie, WY and Belle Fourche, SD when Dick worked in the oil fields.
In Parsons, worked in the Katy Dining room in the MKT RR Depot, worked at the Phipps Bowling Alley Cafe, and after working at the Midget Cafe at 202 North Central, purchased and operated the Midget Cafe until selling it to Jim and Marge Bush.
Betty worked at the Hallmark Card Co. branch plant in Parsons until operation closed in the late 1950s. Organized a Hallmark Card Employee reunion in 1984 attended by approximately 200.
She attended the Pittsburg State University Beauty School in 1962 graduating at the top of her class. She owned and operated the Get Set Beauty Shop in the family home from 1962 to 1975.
Betty started assisting Olmsted Auction Service part-time, then was partner/co-owner of Olmsted Auction Service for over 25 years, retiring in 1997.
She was a former LCMC Auxiliary with 5,000 volunteer hours as a Pink Lady, Lifetime Member of the Ladies Auxiliary Parsons VFW Post 704, Lifetime member of the Parsons Historical Society, member of the Temple, TX Antique Tractor Club, Belonged to many area square dance clubs, attending several national conventions and having danced to more than 100 square dance callers belonged to the Square Dance Century Club. Enjoyed making quilts her whole life, taught by her Grandmother Kimzey when she was 10 years old. Placed with several art and hobby projects in the Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless Art Show.
Her survivors include her daughter, Jayna Henderson, sister-in-law, Wanda Olmsted Divine and her husband Donald of Lee’s Summit, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dick on August 17, 1995, a son-in-law Kim Henderson on September 24, 2012.
Private graveside services will be held on Friday, April 10, 2020 at the Mound Valley Cemetery with burial following. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Parsons Girl Scout Little House and Parsons Senior Center and these may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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