Betty Jo Frank

The Selfless Life of Betty Frank

On the afternoon of November 21, 2024, Betty Jo Frank "Nanny", our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, caretaker, and loving friend to many, was called home by her Heavenly Father. She was surrounded by family and was at peace as she knew the glorious home that had been prepared for her through the blood of her Savior Jesus Christ.

Born in Houston, Texas on December 30, 1936, to Ralph and Annie Parkman, she was the second born of four children. Betty lived her entire childhood in Recreation Acres. She along with her family attended Recreation Acres Baptist Church where she was baptized and would eventually marry the love of her life of 69 years, Bernhardt "Ben" Frank. Betty was an exceptional student whose academic achievement allowed her to skip the 7th grade. She attended Klein High School where she would meet Ben their sophomore year and begin "going steady" their junior year. She loved playing high school basketball and volleyball. They were honored by their peers to be named Klein High School homecoming queen and king their senior year. After graduation, Betty attended Southwestern Business University, in Houston, and worked for Texaco for 1.5 years. She would marry Ben at 18 years of age, on September 2, 1955. It was the beginning of a love story like no other, a story of devotion, sacrifice, friendship, and true soulmates.

Betty and Ben had purchased 1 acre of land in the Klein community from Ben's dad for a total of $200.00. It was a family affair and labor of love through the help of Betty's dad ,who was a brick mason, and other family members that they would build their forever home where she would eventually spend her final days. In September 1956, shortly after welcoming her first child of six, a daughter, Marilyn, they moved into their home before it was finished. Over the next four years she would give birth to two sons, Stephen and Eddie.

Betty's love for cooking began in her early years of marriage. She spent her days caring for the family and finding ways to be resourceful to make ends meet. Ben likes to joke that he taught her to cook, but in reality, it was Ben's aunts that took her under their wing. To say Betty mastered the art of cooking is an understatement. Some of her specialties included chicken and dumplings (the German way), cakes and pies, and fried chicken. In her final days, Betty would talk daily about the art of making a German Chocolate cake. When Ben joined the police force in 1959 it was Betty's job to take care of the house as he worked nights for many years. She never let it show but talked later of how she worried about his safety as he patrolled the streets of Houston at night. To help support the family, Ben had taken a side job which entailed assigning high school referees for basketball and football games in the Houston area. While Ben was the elected secretary it was Betty who answered the phone tirelessly and handled the job daily. Over the years she became friends with numerous referees and coaches.

Betty's walk with Christ was always important to her. She would teach the oldest 3 children Bible study lessons around a small table in the house when they were very young. Betty honored Ben's wishes and joined Trinity Lutheran Church as she was confirmed on June 11, 1967. Ironically, this is

the same year she learned to drive so she could take Marilyn to confirmation class and Stephen and Eddie could attend school at Trinity. Her devotion to Trinity never wavered to the very end as she spoke of it often. Betty would begin teaching Sunday School classes and was a loyal and devoted servant for over 20 years. She loved singing her Sunday School songs and as she aged and declined her best motivation came from singing her favorites which included Jesus Loves Me and Stand up, Stand up for Jesus.

In January of 1968, Betty would welcome the fourth of her six children, a son, Gregory. Four years later she would welcome her son James and her final child, a daughter Shannon, in 1974. The three younger children would also attend Trinity where Betty often served as room mother for their classes, drove carpools, worked concession stands and loved working in the kitchen volunteering for the church picnic.

Betty's devotion to her family continued as she became a grandmother for the first time in 1979 and lovingly became known as Nanny. She would be blessed to be a grandmother of fourteen and a great grandmother of seventeen. Over the years she kept many of the grandchildren during the day, and at times overnight. If there was anybody Betty loved more than her own children, it was her grandchildren. Traditions were created when she gave lessons on making chicken and dumplings and pie crust. She lived by the saying "if momma says no, ask Nanny." She made after school snacks at their request, even if it meant making an array of choices. She made birthday cakes and always enjoyed celebrating them and making each of them feel special.

Aside from cooking, Betty had a love for all animals. She was devoted to helping the boys take care of their FFA animals, feeding the family cattle, and always had a cat and dog in the home. She enjoyed gardening and her plants and flowers. She would lovingly refer to her flowers "as playing in the weeds." Her door was always open to anyone as many referred to her as Nanny. No matter how busy she may have been, she would stop her day for a cup of coffee and conversation. She loved spending time at their lake home in Livingston as it was often filled with family and laughter.

Betty's devotion to her family was evident that in her final months and days she was consistently surrounded by family who honored her by caring for her in her home. Her love language was caring for others, which showed in her love and devotion to Ben, as she unselfishly cared for others including her parents and in laws in their final days, her children and grandchildren, and so many others. It gives her family great honor knowing they could honor her wishes and care for her at home until she was called to her place in Paradise.

Reception to follow after the graveside service at Trinity Lutheran Church .