M. Leanna Bettis, 70, Humboldt, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016, at Country Place in Chanute. Leanna was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1978 and fought a long, valiant battle with the disease.
Leanna was born April 8, 1945, in Iola, the daughter of Homer and Margaret Leanna (Strieby) Smith. She grew up in Humboldt and graduated from Humboldt High School. She married Gerald Brinkman and they made their home on a farm west of Humboldt. They had two sons and later divorced. On Oct. 27, 1987, Leanna married F. Clay Bettis and they followed his construction career living in Orlando, Fla., Pueblo, Colo., and Phoenix, Ariz., before moving to Humboldt. Clay preceded her in death Nov. 14, 2015. She was a member of Humboldt United Methodist Church and the V.F.W. Auxiliary.
She is survived by four children, James Brinkman and wife Janette, Chanute, Albert Bettis and wife Eva, Bonner Springs, Robin (Bettis) Novak and husband Tim, Boling Springs, S.C., and Cheryl Bettis, Kansas City, Kan.; two sisters, Helen Louise Weilert and Sarah Lorraine Smith, both of Humboldt; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Frank Allen Brinkman and sister Deborah Lynn Kaufman.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Humboldt United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Mount Hope Cemetery in Humboldt.
Memorials are suggested to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or Castaways Animal Shelter in Chanute and left with the funeral home.
To leave a condolence online, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
