Betty Sue Holden, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away at the age of 87 on January 10, 2025, at The Manor at Creekside. Betty was born to Kirby B. and Odetta C. (Wilson) Jenkins on November 11, 1937, in rural Clever, Missouri. She was born at home with her grandmother Etta Wilson assisting with the delivery. Betty was raised in rural Stone County and the Hurly area. She attended Nixa Elementary, Hampton Elementary, and Hurley Elementary before moving to Springfield. In Springfield, Betty attended school at Jarrett Junior High, Study Junior High and graduated from Springfield Senior High School in 1955.

At the age of eleven, along with her mother and brother, Billy Wayne, Betty moved to an apartment on South National in Springfield. Her grandpa, James Wilson, and her mother, Odetta, purchased a grocery store on the corner of Nichols and Brown. Betty worked at the family-owned store for many years. Eventually, her family sold the store after serving local neighborhoods for more than 33 years.

Betty attended Draughon Business College while working afternoons as a secretary at Herman-Lohmeyer Funeral Home. In 1956, she worked at Fellini-Dukewits Ford and in 1958, she went to work at Southwestern Bell Telephone as a long-distance operator for two years. Years later after getting her two boys raised, Betty went to work for Springfield Public Schools. She served as a secretary at several schools before retiring in 1997.

Betty “officially” met Clint Holden at her mother’s grocery store, Jenkins Grocery, while Clint was employed at Pilley’s Dairy. Clint had seen Betty before at the Ford agency and stated to many people he was going to marry her someday. They started dating in July of 1957, and were married on February 28, 1958, at the General Baptist Church on Walnut Street in Springfield. Betty and Clint spent most of their life on Springfield’s north side with  a home on Kentwood and their final home being on Campbell street near Doling Park. Betty was most proud of her home on Campbell street as this was the nicest place she had ever lived. She and Clint shared this home and built many memories while living there for more than 50 years of their 64-year marriage. In 1959, while living near Horton Smith Golf Course, they had their first son, Randall Lee. In 1962, their second son, Kirby Dawyne, was born while they lived in their home on Kentwood street.

Since 1963, Betty and Clint were dedicated members of North National Church of Christ, now Water Mill Church of Christ. Betty loved music, sewing, traveling, and doing things with her family. Family vacations were taken every year. After Clint retired in 1990, they were able to attend many car shows in their 1963 Falcon. Along with trips to Hawaii and Florida, Betty and Clint enjoyed many camping trips in their RV. Betty was able to spend time with her grandkids as they grew up and took several trips with them as a family. She also loved Minnie Mouse, Disney, Betty Boop, and collecting Precious Moments and fine china. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, spouse, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Betty is survived by her son, Randall Holden; son, Kirby Holden and his wife, Paula; three grandchildren: Rachel, Lillian and Zachery and a loving niece, Janet Reed. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Holden; parents, Kirby and Odetta Jenkins; and brother, Billy Jenkins.

Betty’s family will host a visitation on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 2:00-3:00, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield. A funeral service will be held immediately following the visitation at 3:00 pm. Betty will be laid to rest next to her husband, Clinton, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. There will be a formal procession from the funeral home to the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Betty’s memory to the Fair Havens Children’s Home or the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Arrangements are under the compassionate direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri.