Betty Jane Hendrickson, aged 86, died on February 7, 2026, surrounded by her family at Hospice House of Reno County in Hutchinson, KS. She was born on March 8, 1939 in Collyer, KS to Raymond Billinger and Katherine (Flagler) Billinger.
Betty graduated from Trego High School in 1957 and attended business school in Omaha, NE.
On July 4, 1959, she married James Hendrickson in Hutchinson, KS. They had six children, whom Betty loved dearly, and together they shared many beautiful memories by traveling, attending music concerts and plays, going to the movies, and taking drives through the countryside to collect wildflowers.
Betty began her career at Answerite as a switchboard operator before joining the Reno County Health Department, where she served as a phone operator. She retired from the Reno County Health Department in 2011. After retiring, she continued working part-time as a guest relations hostess at Conklin Cars until 2020.
Betty was a member of Reno County Choral Society, the Legion of Mary, the Red Hatters Club, the Kansas Authors Club, the Horticultural Club, and the Reno County Health Department Retiree Club. She attended St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, where she was active in the Altar Society. Betty generously gave her time helping with turkey dinners and Saturday bingo, caring for the flowers and plants around St. Teresa’s Family Center, and assisting with many other church activities. She also volunteered at Birthright.
Betty dearly loved the cats she adopted and cared for throughout the years, especially “Gizmo,” who brought her great love and comfort in her final years. She had a tender heart for all animals and would even feed squirrels and opossums that came to her door. Her many hobbies included flower arranging, gardening, jewelry making, decorating for the holidays, and creating yard art. In her later years, she enjoyed painting, listening to mystery audiobooks, and watching Storage Wars.
Betty is survived by her children: Laura (Mark) Oler, Julie Dale, Tina (Chris) Knowles, Michelle (Kevin) Wineinger, and Jennifer Hendrickson (Cornell Ross); 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Katherine Billinger; her sister, Ethel Hillman; her son, John Hendrickson; and her granddaughter, Stacy Dale.
A Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at St. Teresa’s Church in Hutchinson, KS, on April 9, 2026 Rosary at 10:30AM with Mass to follow at 11:00AM with a luncheon to follow burial at Fairlawn Burial Park in Hutchinson, KS at 2:00PM. The family requests that attendees wear bright, beautiful colors in memory of Betty. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her honor to St. Teresa’s Church, Hospice House of Reno County, or the Hutchinson Public Library.