7/31/1929 – 11/12/2026
Lawrence
Bettie Jean Treadway, 97, passed peacefully on November 12, 2026, in Lawrence, reuniting with her beloved husband of 75 years, Ken, and embarking on their next grand adventure together.
Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on July 31, 1929, to parents who owned a small neighborhood grocery store, Bettie Mathews was feisty, fearless, and funny. She married her high school sweetheart, Ken Treadway on December 31, 1950. Daughter, Tanya, was born five years later.
Bettie was a true “renaissance woman.” With Ken, she became a world traveler and adventurer, immersing herself in many cultures, especially their unique foods. She was a terrific cook, baker, canner, jammer, and pickler of all things Ken grew in the garden and orchard. She was a self-taught naturalist who knew the location of every bird’s nest on their country property in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Bettie was a folk artist, creating elaborate and beautiful needlepoint pieces for 40 years. She was an athlete (synchronized swimming, basketball, volleyball), a teacher (swimming, aerobics, volunteer aide in special education classes), and an enthusiastic project manager (give her an idea or a need, and she would make it happen or get it done). Bettie was a great entertainer, who kept everyone laughing with her quick wit, her stories, and her contagious laugh. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, and sister to 5 siblings.
Most importantly, Bettie was a most generous spirit with a wide open heart. She epitomized those who are described as one “who never met a stranger.” Following in the footsteps of both her parents and Ken’s, her home was always open for anyone needing a meal, a helping hand, a conversation, or a hug. She will be remembered and missed by many.
Although there will be no services, the family encourages those who knew and loved Bettie to remember and tell favorite stories about her. And, if you wish to continue her life-long work of teaching children to swim, please consider contributing to the International Swimming Hall of Fame Drowning Prevention and Youth Learn to Swim projects: 1 Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.
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