Betty Louise Rust

Betty Louise (Crippen) Rust was born January 14, 1932, in Excelsior Springs, Missouri to parents Leroy & Alma (Robinson) Crippen. She had two brothers and four sisters: Eugene, William, Vivian, Edith, Martha & Barbara.

Her family lived around Excelsior Springs all of her life. She attended Mosby Elementary School and graduated from Excelsior Springs High School in 1950. She met William E. “Pete” Rust and they were married March 22, 1952, in Harrison, Arkansas. To this union there were four boys: Elton, Mark, Kenneth & Will. Pete & Betty were married 63 years. He passed in 2015.

Betty was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a 64-year member of the Eastern Star, Chapter 367. Betty retired in 1993 from the Independence School District Food Service & Nutrition Department where she was the cafeteria manager at Benton Elementary School.

She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, and being outside with mother nature. She was a long- time devoted fan of the soap opera General Hospital, having watched since it began in 1963. She was a Chiefs and a Royals fan.

Betty liked camping and traveling. After retirement she and Pete especially enjoyed day trips with no destination. They liked to just “go for a drive” and see where the road and the day took them. Even in her final years, her boys often would pick her up to find a quaint place for lunch off the beaten path, or a day trip to Lawson or Springfield to visit family.

In 2022, with inspiration from a gift she received, Betty wrote a book about her life growing up. She loved to share her cherished memories and tell stories about her family. She had always dabbled in poetry but really took up this hobby in her 90’s. It was something that kept her busy nearly every day. She’d choose a topic from a flower to a family member, or a make-believe scene and she would write and rhyme for hours. On a few occasions she gave framed poetry about her family as gifts. She was one of the most sentimental people you would ever meet. Her emotions of love and blessings often spilling over with happy tears of pride for her family and gratefulness in her heart.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents Leroy and Alma Crippen, brothers Eugene and William Crippen, sisters, Vivian and Edith Crippen and Martha King, granddaughter Jacklyn Rust and great-granddaughter Emma Sue Rust.

She is survived by her sister Barbara Coil (Bob) of Lawson, Missouri, brother-in-law Larry Rust (Bonnie) of Springfield, Missouri, sister-in-law Sue Rust of Marshfield, Missouri, her sons Elton Rust (Virginia Sigloch), Mark Rust (Debbie), Kenneth Rust (Cindy), and Will Rust, all of Independence, Missouri, twelve grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.