Obituaries
4
trees
planted in memory of Louis James Betts, Jr.
Obituary for Louis James Betts, Jr.
LOUIS “SONNY” JAMES BETTS, JR. 84, of Morrison, IL, died Thursday, May 19, 2022 at Rock River Hospice Home in Sterling, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Our Savior Lutheran Church with Pastor Daniel Behmlander of Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Rock Falls, officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 25th at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral home. Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery. A memorial to Rock River Hospice Home has been established.
Louis was born December 11, 1937 in Morrison, IL, to Louis Sr. and Inez (Lyon) Betts. He went to Independence Country School for two years before moving to Morrison to attend high school. He was first married to Shirley Jean Zuidema. Then on August 24, 1974 he married Beverly Irene Morehead in Clinton, IA. Louis worked for Shirley’s father at Morrison Auto Body Shop for two years, and then worked in the body shop at Eddie Schuler Motors for four years. After that he became a self-employed trucker. Louis was an accomplished bowler, starting in 1954 and retiring in 1999. He participated in Morrison’s Monday and Friday night bowling leagues at the Hilltop Lanes and served as the league’s secretary. He was in the 700 club, Travel League and was also inducted into the Mississippi Rock River Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1994. He had served as Past President and Director of the Association. Louis also enjoyed woodworking and completed the projects for his wife’s craft fairs. He umpired little league for many years – even enjoyed calling his own son “out!”. He was a whiz with crossword puzzles, enjoyed watching westerns, old TV shows, and when time allowed, he like to fish and hunt.
Survivors include his wife, Bev; one daughter, Dawn (Tom) Beswick of Morrison, IL; two sons, Randy (Sue Boelkins) Betts of Sterling, IL and Scott (Stacey) Betts of Liberty Township, OH; a step daughter, Doreen Manning of Galax, VA; one step son, Arthur Morehead of Naples, FL; seven grandchildren, Marcy (James) Shank, Renee (Tony) Garcia, Candace (Jason) Bush, Hannah (Brooke) Zuidema, Alexander Betts, Carson Betts, Embry Betts; six great grandchildren, Kyle (Drew Littrel) Haan, Demery (Merik Kennedy) Haan, Lucas (JayCee Bentley) Carey, Joseph Shank, Hunter Bush, Landon Bush; one step great grandchild, Hailey Bush; two great great grandchildren, Emery Haan and Easton Carey; one brother-in-law, John Bollivar; one son-in-law, Randy Zuidema; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Sr, (Sara G. Dykes) Betts and Inez (Larry) Rossow; one daughter, Kristal Zuidema; one son, Richard Betts; two sisters, Mary Covert and Marjorie Bollivar.
Read More
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Our Savior Lutheran Church with Pastor Daniel Behmlander of Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Rock Falls, officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 25th at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral home. Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery. A memorial to Rock River Hospice Home has been established.
Louis was born December 11, 1937 in Morrison, IL, to Louis Sr. and Inez (Lyon) Betts. He went to Independence Country School for two years before moving to Morrison to attend high school. He was first married to Shirley Jean Zuidema. Then on August 24, 1974 he married Beverly Irene Morehead in Clinton, IA. Louis worked for Shirley’s father at Morrison Auto Body Shop for two years, and then worked in the body shop at Eddie Schuler Motors for four years. After that he became a self-employed trucker. Louis was an accomplished bowler, starting in 1954 and retiring in 1999. He participated in Morrison’s Monday and Friday night bowling leagues at the Hilltop Lanes and served as the league’s secretary. He was in the 700 club, Travel League and was also inducted into the Mississippi Rock River Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1994. He had served as Past President and Director of the Association. Louis also enjoyed woodworking and completed the projects for his wife’s craft fairs. He umpired little league for many years – even enjoyed calling his own son “out!”. He was a whiz with crossword puzzles, enjoyed watching westerns, old TV shows, and when time allowed, he like to fish and hunt.
Survivors include his wife, Bev; one daughter, Dawn (Tom) Beswick of Morrison, IL; two sons, Randy (Sue Boelkins) Betts of Sterling, IL and Scott (Stacey) Betts of Liberty Township, OH; a step daughter, Doreen Manning of Galax, VA; one step son, Arthur Morehead of Naples, FL; seven grandchildren, Marcy (James) Shank, Renee (Tony) Garcia, Candace (Jason) Bush, Hannah (Brooke) Zuidema, Alexander Betts, Carson Betts, Embry Betts; six great grandchildren, Kyle (Drew Littrel) Haan, Demery (Merik Kennedy) Haan, Lucas (JayCee Bentley) Carey, Joseph Shank, Hunter Bush, Landon Bush; one step great grandchild, Hailey Bush; two great great grandchildren, Emery Haan and Easton Carey; one brother-in-law, John Bollivar; one son-in-law, Randy Zuidema; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Sr, (Sara G. Dykes) Betts and Inez (Larry) Rossow; one daughter, Kristal Zuidema; one son, Richard Betts; two sisters, Mary Covert and Marjorie Bollivar.
To plant a tree in memory of Louis James Betts, Jr., visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
25
May
4:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Bosma-Renkes - Morrison Chapel
404 Lincolnway East
Morrison, IL 61270
Service
Thursday
26
May
10:00 AM
Our Savior Lutheran Church
21496 Hazel Road
Sterling, IL 61081
Cemetery Details
Location
Grove Hill Cemetery
East High Street
Morrison, IL 61270
Loading...