MENTONE – Betty Lela Witham Burnett Zimpelman entered this world on Nov. 30, 1932, and left this world on April 23, 2019, at 86½ years young.
She was married to Robert “Bob” Zane Burnett on May 9, 1951, until his passing on Dec. 17, 1981. She later married Rex Zimpelman on Nov. 8, 1986, and remained married until her passing.
Betty had a heart of gold. She raised six kids, but she embraced all children as her own. She was a woman of grace and elegance, and loved by all.
She was an amazing cook and would feed all who hungered. It was difficult to wait for dinner at our house because everything always smelled so good. Mom almost never used a written recipe, and to watch her cook was magical. A favorite memory is Mom cleaning bluegills for hours and frying up a big batch for dinner. Her grilled barbecue chicken was the best.
Our mom was the head cook at many neighboring restaurants, which included Smitty’s in Etna Green, Red Door in Bourbon, Plymouth Country Club and the Atwood Café (yes, those famous Friday fish fries were the best).
In her later years, she enjoyed meeting and greeting everyone at the Mentone Grocery Mart.
Betty loved her dandelion greens and would dig them every spring and fry them up into patties, as well as some of the best homemade dill pickles ever.
Betty always had a smile on her face, and her laugh was infectious to all around her; right up until her last day she was ornery.
Many loved our mom. She often thought of others before thinking of herself. Mom never turned away from a welcomed guest or let a stranger go hungry. Our mother was generous and giving to all. She had a great sense of humor and liked telling or hearing jokes.
Betty was a fighter and fought until her last day on earth. She referred to the others in her nursing home as kids and would watch over all of them with a loving eye. During her nursing home years, Mom would get incredibly excited when someone brought her caramels and/or candy bars. Betty loved getting to take a special trip to the DQ into Bremen for an ice cream. Lunches with Mom were an adventure. Mom often did not know what to order and it was not unusual for Mom to say, “Hey, what is that you are eating, I want that!” She would end up eating your meal while you would end up eating whatever she was having.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Robert Zane Burnett; daughters, Pamela Sue Boyer and infant Jo Lynn Burnett; sisters: Patricia Stutzman, Beverly Johnston and Sandy Rovenstine; and brothers, Ned Witham and Harry “Curly” Witham.
She is survived by husband Rex Zimpelman; her children: Beverley (Chip) Wallstead, Tina (Ken) Blackford, Zane Burnett, Jim (AeyRatchaya) Burnett and Kerri (Tracy) Yoder; and grandchildren, Ryan and Eric (Jen) Boyer, Judd and Jason Weirick, Scott (Jacyln) Blackford, Kendra (Joel) Laidig, Todd (Cheyenne) Blackford, Brooke (Kevin) Miller, Jacob Burnett, Ally (Clay) Christmas, Tawan Panupan and Derek Burnett. Betty has 18 great-grandchildren and a brother, Rex Witham.
She also is survived by her stepchildren, Randy (Elizabeth) Zimpelman, Kelly (Rusty) Nellans, Rusty (Amy) Zimpelman and Krista (David) Neace.
A celebration of life will take place at noon Saturday, May 11, at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone, with Pastor Jordan Ickes officiating.
A private burial will take place at Etna Green Cemetery, Etna Green.
Memorial visitation will take place prior to the service from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11, at King Memorial Home, Mentone.
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Memorials to Signature Health Care of Bremen.
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