Betty Laverne (Jones) Gitchel was born November 18, 1953 in Norton County, Kansas the 3rd Child of Montra & Mary Opal (Berney) Jones. She attended grade school at Edmond, Kansas and high school in Norton. Growing up she lived in Edmond, Norton, then to Phillipsburg where she worked at the Mark V & Colonial Lounge.

She was united in marriage to Ralph Gitchel at Ralph's Grandmother's farm in Phillips County, on July 21st, 1986. To this union, two children were born, Daughter, Laverne and Son, Melvin.

Betty enjoyed crocheting and spending time with family, friends and step-grandson, Mitchell. Betty & Ralph moved to Agra 3 years ago, where she lived when she was diagnosed with cancer about 3 months ago. She was unable to care for herself, so she moved to Prairie Haven in Kensington. She was reunited with her husband Ralph and was able to spend her remaining days with him.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gene Jones; Brothers, Montere Jones and Joe Jones; father and mother-in-law, Melvin & Louise Gitchel; and brother-in-law, Danial Reeh.

Survivors include her husband, Ralph of Kensington; daughter Laverne Gitchel of Hill City; son, Melvin & his wife Jessica of Phillipsburg; grandson, Mitchell; her mother, Mary Opal Jones of Kensington; sister Opal Urbanek of Ellsworth; brother, George Jones of Hiawatha; ½ brother, James Hunt; and lots of other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Patricia Reep officiating. Burial will follow in the Agra Cemetery, Agra.

Betty will lie in state from Noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, where the family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Betty Gitchel Memorial Fund.