Bettye Jane Cross, 94, of Lebanon, formerly of Oregon, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Lebanon.

She was born Nov. 23, 1925, in Nebraska to William George and Viola Gail White Kotschwar.

Bettye was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roland Eldon Cross on Aug. 21, 2001, and several siblings.

She was a postmaster for many years. She also received her student pilot certificate in 1956.

Bettye is survived by three children, Frederick Cross and his wife Marna of Prineville, Ore.; Sheileyn Pilant and her husband Ronnie of Lebanon, and Belinda Jo Paxton, also of Prineville, Oe.; one brother, Glen Kotschwar and his wife Vickie of Chadron, Neb.; three sisters, Alice Fickenscher, of Surprise, Ariz.; Mable Conklin of Sterling, Ill. and Jeannie Henderson of Lexington, Neb.; eleven grandchildren, Michael Williams and his wife Mandy, Johnnie Williams, Billie Jo Robertson and her husband Robert, Joey Williams and his wife Robin, Cassandra Hix and her husband Jim, Lassandra Knoedler and her husband Jon, Eldon “E.J.” Cross and his wife Amanda, Shawn Cross, Levi Cross and his wife Jenn, Matthew Pilant and his wife Michelle and Larry Pilant; twenty-three great-grandchildren, Sean Williams and his wife Kalelynn, Ian Megan, Kiylie, James and John Williams, Calvin Steven Robertson and his wife Breann, Samantha Robertson. Brooke and Kellen Williams, Riley and Savannah Hix, Karis Williamson and her husband Bennett, Faith and Necia Knoedler, Gage, Natalie, Ezra and Eliyah Cross, Jamie Pilant and his wife Kyia, Mikayla Pilant and Triniti Akers; two great-great-grandchildren, Braxton and Piper and one great-great-granddaughter on the way, Blakeley; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

A graveside service and burial for Bettye Jane Cross will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, at Juniper-Haven Cemetery in Prineville, Ore., under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel of Lebanon. To sign the guestbook online, please visit shadelscolonialchapel.com. Under the guidelines of the CDC and the state of Missouri, the staff of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel ask that you observe social distancing and proper hygiene. Those guidelines will be monitored during this time to accommodate the family and their wishes.

Laclede County Record, August 18, 2020