Betty Lou (Popp) Mueller, 95, of Tampa, passed away on March 3, 2024 at Marion Assisted Living in Marion. She was born September 21, 1928 to Ira and Amelia (Schwemmer) Popp of Tampa, on the family farm.
Betty was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Tampa. She attended the Tampa schools and graduated from Tampa High School in 1946 as Class Valedictorian. She attended Brown Mackie School of Business, Salina, and worked for a lawyer and Saline County Department of Social Welfare before her marriage.
Betty married her sweetheart, Art Mueller, April 17, 1949, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Tampa. They began their married life on the farm northeast of Tampa where they lived over 60 years. Art entered St. Luke Living Center in September, 2009 and died September, 2013. They were blessed with three sons, five grandchildren four great grandchildren and 64 years of marriage. Betty continued to live on the farm until October, 2022 when she moved to Marion Assisted Living. She appreciated the warm, kind and caring support of the staff and residents.
Betty was a faithful and active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League where she served in all offices. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and also served on the zone LWML Board for several years. Betty was church organist for 70 years, starting at a very young age (13) and continuing past 80. She played for many weddings. Her love of music was passed on to her sons who learned to read music before going to school—piano was another story. She was a 4-H Community Leader for many years, a member of Tampa Senior Citizens and helped with community events. Betty liked to cross-stitch pictures and quilt blocks, read and in later years she loved her emails from friends and grandchildren and following them on Facebook. She worked with her husband and sons on the farm, especially during harvest driving the grain trucks.
Betty was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed being a grandmother and great grandmother. Even though her grandchildren were many miles away, they regularly received letters, packages, M&M’s and cookies through college followed by her emails. She looked forward to their visits and the refrigerator was filled with their favorite foods plus cookies, brownie fudge cake and pies for her “boys” and three granddaughters (finally girls),
Betty is survived by her sons—Dale (Marla) of Folsom, CA, Douglas of Lake Wissota, WI, and David (Danny Williamson) of Tampa; five grandchildren—Brent of Sacramento, CA, Christina (Travis) Schroeder of Eau Claire, WI, Brenda (Fadi) Saba of Amman, Jordan, Andrea of San Francisco, CA, and Donovan of Los Angeles, CA, and great grandchildren—Austin, Jeremy and Aiden Schroeder of Eau Claire, WI and Ryan Saba of Amman, Jordan. She also is survived by her sister, Lola of White City, plus many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Art.
Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. March 13, 2024 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Tampa officiated by Rev. Clark M. Davis. Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. March 12, 2024 at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Memorials to St. John's Lutheran Church in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.