Betty Jean Roberson was born January 4, 1931 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and passed away on May 22, 2015 at her home in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Betty was the 3rd child of six children born to Melvin and Ellie Roberson of Dale, Oklahoma. The Roberson family migrated from Southeast Arkansas in the late 1920’s following the Dossey family to the Dale Community.

Betty attended Dale Public School and graduated in 1949 with plans to attend Oklahoma A&M with her best friend and classmate, Jean Woodall. Betty and Jean were very active members of the County 4-H Club Program and were eager to start their college career in Stillwater both having received Community 4-H Scholarships of $100 covering two semesters of tuition {$48.50} per semester. They anxiously awaited their first trip to Oklahoma A&M to enroll in classes. They were encouraged by Jack Herron, who was a past basketball star for basketball coach IBA, to continue their 4-H involvement and major in Home Economics. Mr. Jack Herron had been their County Extension Coach for their school 4-H activities and contests. Betty and Jean had often been winners in their county and district contests. Betty and Jean soon would settle in on campus in Murray Hall as their place of residence for the next two years. Thanks to Mr. Herron’s help they both found jobs in the cafeteria of Murray Hall. Betty was like many “rural” people just coming out of the 1930’s depression and drought, so home support was quite limited. It was a new world for the newly arriving “Country Girls”.

The school year of 1949-50 was challenging but pleasant and even fun especially with the Collegiate 4-H Club and with their work with other young people from the Murray dorm. The classroom, 4-H club and other campus activities were great experiences for the small town girls. It was a common saying back then, “some female students came to college for a “Mrs” degree but not Betty and Jean! In spite of the bad rap, a changing situation was developing with Betty’s roommate. She had gotten acquainted with a Eugene Kottke from the Earlsboro school east of Shawnee. The plot thickens as Eugene had a roommate by the name of Jack Pritchard. Several attempts were made for Betty and Jack to become acquainted. Gene finally showed Jack a picture of Betty! Jack was impressed with the two Jean/Gene’s efforts but he explained she was a pretty girl but said he didn’t have the “cash” to date.

The beginning of Spring 1951, fate would intervene. The setting was the MK&O Bus Station on a Sunday afternoon in Shawnee, Oklahoma. There was a large group of students assembled at the bus station waiting to load the bus to Stillwater for the second year. On this bus you guessed it, was Betty Roberson and Jack Pritchard! Remember they had never seen each other before on the bus. The bus begins to load. Jack is seated about 2/3 way back on the outside seat! The bus was filling quickly and toward the end of the loading line comes a girl that looks somewhat familiar. Jack and Betty make eye contact, smile and Betty continues toward the back of the bus looking for a seat. The only seat available was the long back row seat. It was ninety percent full and Jack turned for a quick look to see the exact location of her. He wanted a second look anyway, was she who he thought she was? Jack was almost positive she was Betty Roberson that the 2 roommates had been promoting.

The bus still had a stop in Chandler. Someone made the statement why is the bus stopping there is no more room on the bus. But the bus stops anyway. The door opens and one passenger appears in the door. She quickly starts toward the back of the bus and she sets dead center on Betty Roberson’s lap. Betty struggled to get out of captivity; several passengers helped her get loose. Jack was almost sure it was Betty. Jack quickly got up from his seat and asked her to take his seat! Betty was in total shock from her experience and quickly accepted the offer. Betty and Jack after a few miles confirmed that our “roommates” were the plotters of the efforts to get us together! As the bus rolled to a stop in Stillwater, Betty and Jack walked to his and Gene’s room and deposited Jack’s stuff and walked together to her Murray Hall Dorm. The 4th and final semester they met often between classes and cemented a long and lasting relationship.

Betty and Jack would date during the summer of 1951, as they returned to their homes in Shawnee. The summer of 1951 was filled with great uncertainty and decisions were made. Jack’s grade point average would put him at risk for enrolling and Betty did not pass Chemistry!

In August a decision was made, Betty would drop out of college and go to work for the New Sylvania Plant in Shawnee. Jack would avoid the draft of the Korean War by joining the Air Force for 4 years.

August 28, 1951, Jack boarded an MK&O Bus in Shawnee to get the old Huckins Hotel in Oklahoma City to enter into the air force. Jack’s plan for enlisting in the Air Force took a surprising turn once be met the enlisting officer. He saw Jack’s 2 years of College Air Force ROTC and wanted to sign him up for duty. He told the officer he had a personal problem he had to attend to at home before signing. He had planned to ask Betty to marry him the coming Saturday night. The enlisting officer told Jack, “If you don’t sign I can’t promise I will have a place for you.” Jack didn’t sign, Betty was more important. Jack told the enlisting officer I’ll be back next Monday and walked back to the bus station and waited for the next bus back to Shawnee. The next Saturday night he proposed to his sweetheart and gave her a ring!

Jack and Betty have often wished they could have located the lady who loaded the bus at Chandler, Oklahoma because she was the special angel that brought them together which lasted for 62 years. The Korean War ended in 1943 and Betty and Jack were married November 8, 1952. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico were Betty worked the Sandia Base Post Exchange while Jack worked as the Classified Document Supervisor at the base.

In 1954, their son Steve was born. In 1955, Jack’s tour of duty ended. Betty and Jack soon returned to Stillwater in August 1955. In 1958 Jack secured a job teaching Agricultural Education at Glencoe, Oklahoma. In 1962 a daughter Barbie was born.

In 1993, Betty retired after 17 years at Glencoe Public Schools. She worked with her best Friend, Alene Honeyman and in her last years of working she was the Supervisor of the Cafeteria.

Betty was a member of the Glencoe Floral Valley Extension Club for over 50 years. She was known for competing in Payne County Extension Cake and Bread shows and winning numerous awards with her cakes and restoring furniture for the Payne County Fair.

Betty loved cooking for people. The more people at her dinner table the happier she was. She always made sure everyone had plenty to eat and never left hungry.

In 1981, Jack and Betty opened their home to a group of OSU students from across the state looking for a church home as they were far from home. They held services in their home and Betty became a mother away from home to many of the OSU students. They referred to her as “Mother of the Congregation”. They saw their dream become a reality in 1983 when the North Jardot Street Church of Christ opened it’s doors.

Betty was very loving, gentle person. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren and all of their accomplishments.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Ellie Roberson; brothers, Dwight Roberson, Gail Roberson and Neil Roberson and two sisters, Alma Martin and Donnie Roberson.

She is survived by her husband, Jack of 62 years of the home; son, Steve Pritchard and his wife Ginger of McLoud, Oklahoma; daughter, Barbie Teel and husband Joe of Stillwater, Oklahoma; two granddaughters, Lindsey Potts and her husband, Allan of Paoli, Oklahoma and Tatum Pritchard of McLoud, Oklahoma; two grandsons, Joshua and Noah Teel of Stillwater and one great grandson, Michael Pritchard of McLoud; two sister-in-laws, Dixie Roberson and Erma Roberson, both of Shawnee, Oklahoma plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Service will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Palmer-Marler Funeral Home.

Burial will be at 1:00pm at the Dale Cemetery, Dale, Oklahoma following the service.

Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.