Betty I. Palen

Betty Irene Palen was born on December 30, 1940 in Tipton, Kansas, the daughter of John and Katherine Gasper Schroeder. She died suddenly on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit at the age of 68 years, 1 month, and 4 days.
She grew up and was a lifetime resident of Tipton. She started school in the Holy Corner School House before attending and graduating from Tipton High School.
On June 1, 1959, she was united in marriage to Virgil Palen in Tipton. They were privileged to spend 49 years of marriage together and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. Five children were born to this union.
Betty loved her family, and enjoyed spending her time attending her kids' and grandkids' ballgames and activities throughout the years. She also loved bingo and cooking, and in previous years would go bowling or dancing until her health would no allow her to do so any longer.
She served as a school cook for more than 20 years for USD #272. She was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, and was very active in the Daughters of Isabella and the Altar Society.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Clarence Schroeder; and infant sisters, Catherine Marie and Dorothy Ann.
She is survived by her husband, Virgil of the home; one daughter, Sandra Harder and her special friend Darrell Klaus of Hays; four sons, Steven of Tipton, Roger and his wife B of Haysville, and Rodney and his wife Anne and Byron and his wife Barb, all of Beloit; five sisters, Delores Brummer and her husband Wendell of Downs, Stella Mans and her husband Bill of Osborne, Laurine Schmitt of Tipton, Eleanor Pahls and her husband Merwyn of Beloit, and Carolyn Schmitt and her husband Richard of Cawker City; seven grandchildren, Krista Patterson and her husband Doug, Jeremy Harder and his fiancé Pauletta Gano, Caleb, Alison, and Vincent Palen, and Brady and Blaise Palen; one great grandchild, Alyssa Patterson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral mass will be at 10:00 AM Friday, February 6 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton. A vigil service will be at 7:00 PM Thursday at the church. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Tipton Schools or to Charity of Donor's Choice.