Betty June Wilson

Betty June Wilson, daughter of the late Stanley Klein and Grace Vergie (Baughman) Klein, was born February 11, 1939, in the family home in New Haven, Missouri. Due to her father being a grain elevator masonry foreman, the family moved wherever he worked. Betty grew up in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. She graduated from high school and entered the United States Women’s Army Corp. Betty served her country faithfully for three years and earned the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. She was honorably discharged and moved back to Missouri for a short time before re-entering the Army and served for another three years before her honorable discharge. She served her country as a photographer and developer. She photographed accidents of helicopters and other aircraft, among other accidents, buildings, and many more subjects along with portraits of personnel. Betty met a young man through a friend by the name of James Anderson Wilson while she was stationed at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. Their love of photography brought them together and they were united in marriage on February 23, 1968, in Dothan, Alabama. They continued to reside in Alabama while James worked as a civil service employee. In the early 1980’s, the family came to the Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri area to be closer to family and James continued to work as a civil service employee. Betty was able to stay at home and raise her three children: Evelyn, Norma, and James. Betty was very particular about her home and ran a very organized home. She enjoyed sewing, canning, baking and refinishing furniture. She and James not only shared a love for photography, but also for Corvairs. Betty loved her family dearly and always looked forward to them being together, especially at Thanksgiving. Even at the time of her passing on Thanksgiving evening, the family was together. Betty reached the age of 85 years and will be sadly missed by all those that knew and loved her. She leaves to cherish her memory, her three children: Evelyn Karmann of the State of Missouri, Norma Holtz of Coffeen, IL and James Wilson of Plano, TX; three grandchildren: Tiffany Karmann, Grace Holtz and Tyler Holtz; one great grandson: Walter Hedderman; two sisters: Barbara Holland of the State of Illinois and Judith Daniels of the State of Oregon; one niece: Charity Holland; several other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband: James Wilson; and one infant sister: Sharon Fay Klein. Even though she is gone from our sight, Betty’s love for and commitment to her family will live on in our hearts forever. Services with military honors were held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2024 in the Memorial Chapel in Waynesville, Missouri with Pastor Richard Breeden offiiciating. The songs "Amazing Grace" and "Wind Beneath My Wings" were played. Serving as escorts were James Wilson, Tyler Holtz, Mark Brookshire, Norma Holtz, Tiffany Karmann, and Harley Hedderman. Military honors were provided by the Missouri Honors Team. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Betty Wilson and may be left at Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert.

Betty June Wilson

February 11, 1939 - November 28, 2024