Betty Jean Brunkow

WAMEGO- Betty Jean Brunkow, 91, of Wamego, Kansas, passed away Monday, November 19, 2012 at her residence.

Betty was born July 31, 1921 in Wamego, Kansas the daughter of Harry L. and Mary Pearl (Head) Machin. She attended schools in Wamego, graduating from Wamego High School in 1940. On June 18, 1946, Betty married Leonard “Bud” Brunkow in Wamego. He preceded her in death in 1984.

Betty worked many jobs throughout her life. She was a bank teller for Farmers State Bank in Westmoreland, a secretary at Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Topeka, a telephone operator for Wamego Telephone Company, the owner and operator of Bud’s Meats and Groceries, a school bus driver for USD #320, a legal secretary for Ben Pickering and a baker and cook for USD #320 all before retiring. Even after her retirement she went to work at McDonalds as the pizza and salad lady. She was a founding member of the Wamego Dutch Mill Sweet Adeline Choir and was inducted into the Wamego High School Hall of Fame for Basketball. Betty loved playing bingo, traveling to all 50 states, music, and singing with the Sweet Adeline’s. She also loved canning homegrown items and making homemade ice cream and cake for all family birthdays. She was also an avid KState fan.

Betty is survived by her daughter: Linda Herman and husband Denny of Wamego, KS; one son-in-law: John Hupe of Wamego, KS; one brother: Harry Machin, Jr. of Webster Groves, MO; 5 grandchildren: Kevin (Brenda), Jason (Kait), Jeremy (Amanda), Brian (Katy) and Chad (Brooke) and 8 great-grandchildren: Abigail, Seth, Tripp, Madeline, Amelia, Logan, Max and Charlie. She was also preceded in death by her daughter: Cindy Hupe, in 2001, two brothers: John and Robert Machin and a sister: Joan Hamm.

Funeral services for Betty will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the Stewart Funeral Home, Wamego. Burial will follow at the Wamego City Cemetery. Betty will lie in-state from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Friday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wamego Senior Center or the Pottawatomie County Caring Hearts Humane Society and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.stewartfuneralhomes.com