Bettye Jane (Kirk) Gustus

Bettye Jane Gustus, 92, of Lyons, Kansas, passed away June 13, 2021, at Pleasant View Home, Inman. She was born March 4, 1929, in Mingo County, West Virginia, the daughter of Albert and Pearl Kirk. Bettye has resided in Lyons since 1947, formerly of Logan, West Virginia. She was a bookkeeper for Briscoe Oil Company in Lyons, and later owned and operated Howard’s Clothing Store in Lyons. Bettye was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Lyons; member and past State President of the American Legion Auxiliary; member of the Lyons Town and Country Club and Ladies Golf Association; member of the 8 & 40 Club, where she held regional positions. She enjoyed golfing and traveling. In 1948, Bettye was united in marriage with Darrell F. Huffman in Lyons. They later divorced. On June 25, 1976, Bettye was united in marriage with Clifford “Cliff” Gustus in Lyons. He passed away on October 9, 1998. She is also preceded in death by her parents; son, David Huffman; daughter, Debbie Laessig; son-in-law, H. Kay Laessig; four brothers, Marshall Kirk, Bob Kirk, James Kirk, and Bill Kirk; sister, Jean Cherpitel; four infant siblings; and infant grandson, Kyger Charles Rose. Bettye is survived by her daughter, Vickie Folck of Lyons; step-son, Tom Jones and wife Susan of Bloomington, NE; two step-daughters, Linda Rupp of Lewisburg, TN, and Carol Willis and husband Jim of Corpus Christi, TX; three sisters, Rosella Christenson of McPherson, KS, Helen George of Thompson Station, TN, and Phyllis Greenslate and husband Bill of Springhill, TN; brother, Jerry Kirk and wife Nancy of Fort Wayne, IN; eight grandchildren, Darron Laessig and wife Rhonda of Lincoln, NE, Jason Laessig and wife Shelly of Lincoln, NE, Gavon Laessig and wife Audrey of Brooklyn, NY, Shannon Bauer and husband Jason of Aberdeen, SD, Amanda Jantz and husband Eli of Wamego, KS, Lindsay Brunenn and husband Andrew of Wamego, KS, Dustin Huffman and wife Jenna of Dayton, OH, and Andrew Huffman and wife Nicole of Tulsa, OK; and sixteen great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M., Monday, June 21, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church, Lyons, with pastor Kim Shank officiating. Please use the following link to view the service. fb.me/e/1LX7ngA2F Private family burial will be at the Geneseo Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Sunday, June 20, 2021, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons with family present. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial contributions to the Lyons Bell and Star Fund or First United Methodist Church, Lyons, in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.