Betty Marie Wood, age 91, died March 8, 2024, at home surrounded by all her loving family.
She was born on December 4, 1932, in Russell, Kansas, to Fred C. and Julia Leeson Rosenberg. Her brothers, Leonard A. and Allen L. Rosenberg, preceded her in death.
She married Richard W. Wood on December 3, 1950, at the Galesburg Christian Church in Galesburg, Kansas. He survives at the home. Richard and Betty enjoyed 73 years of marriage surrounded by the love of many friends and a wonderful family who all live in the Pittsburg area. They both enjoyed a life of faith and service to the church and the community.
Betty grew up in Valley Center, Kansas, a suburb of Wichita. Her family moved to Parsons, Kansas, where she entered school in Galesburg, and graduated high school.
In high school, she served as the secretary of the senior class, played on the basketball team, and was selected as homecoming queen. She graduated from Neosho County Junior College and attended Pittsburg State University and was awarded the Kappi Delta Pi. Immediately
after graduating high school Betty was hired by Kress & Co. Store in Parsons as a bookkeeper.
Betty is survived by three sons, Roger Wood and his wife Terri, Richard (Rick) Wood and his wife Meichelle, and Robert Wood and his wife Robin. Also surviving are four granddaughters, Tiffany Wiske and Jason, Regina Winemiller and Isaac, Rachel Valencia and Adam, and Christian Anne Elizabeth (CAE) Wood; a great-grandson, Logan Wiske; great-granddaughters, Madeline and Autumn Wiske, Fiona and Maya Winemiller, and June Valencia; and a great-grandson, Frankie Valencia. She was lovingly known as Gigi by her many great-grandchildren.
Betty was a Real Estate Broker from 1967 to 2000 and was co-owner, with her husband, of Richard Wood Investment Co. of Erie, Kansas, and was a broker, closing officer, and sales manager at Wood Realtors of Pittsburg, Kansas. She was the first woman president of the Pittsburg Board of Realtors in 1975 and Realtor of the Year of the Pittsburg Board in 1977. She
also owned and managed the Vel-Fre Motel in Pittsburg for over 25 years.
Betty was a graduate of the Realtors Institute and served on the Board of Governors. She was a speaker for real estate educational seminars for many years. She was the 1980 Kansas State Realtor Woman of the Year and earned the Certified Residential Broker (CRB) and Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI). She served an 8-year term on the Real Estate Advisory Committee for the University of Kansas at Lawrence. She served 4 years on the Kansas Real Estate Commission, was the first woman to be appointed to the commission by the governor, and she served as Commission Chairperson. She was the chairperson of the Women's Council of Realtors of Kansas and also served as the president of the Pittsburg Board of Realtors in 1975. This is just a short list of her numerous accomplishments in the field of business and real estate.
Betty was a volunteer at Via Christi Medical Center and was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Richard and Betty liked to travel and have enjoyed trips to Brazil, Alaska, several Mexico trips, a trip to Europe, and Denmark. Betty's father's parents immigrated to the United States from Denmark, so they enjoyed getting to visit with many relatives while there.
Betty was a bookkeeper for several businesses for many years. As a retiree, she stayed busy with friends and family, enjoyed being part of many clubs, relaxing at their farm, and playing cards.
Betty was an avid writer and painter. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, spending many weekends in the summer at the lake swimming, boating, and skiing, or relaxing with family at their farm in Pittsburg.
Richard and Betty have been members of the Countryside Christian Church since 1971.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Countryside Christian Church, 1901 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS with minister Dan Muter and minister Jim Frech co-officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Countryside Christian Church. Friends may come by from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 22 at the Brenner Mortuary to sign the register book.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Mt. Hope Cemetery, 6000 Kingman Road, Galesburg, Kansas. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to Countryside Christian Church or Gideons International. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary.
