Betty Summers

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Betty Louise Deneke Summers, 85, formerly of Sikeston, died Monday, March 25, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

Loving mother, sister, daughter, teacher, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, she was fiercely loyal and protective.

She ran a private nursery school for many years in Sikeston where she taught hundreds of children countless things, from how to tie their shoes and how not to behave, to how important manners are. She taught little ones things that many believed were outside their abilities to learn and made sure they had fun learning them.

On the occasion of her retirement from teaching, she was honored to receive a proclamation from the Missouri House of Representatives proclaiming that day as Betty Summers Day. She was dearly loved by many Sikeston area residents and will be sorely missed.

Betty was born Oct. 4, 1927, daughter and first born child of Elmer F. and Lillian E. Lufcy Deneke, who also lived in Cape Girardeau until their deaths.

She is survived by a brother, Robert E. "Bob" Deneke; a beloved sister-in-law, Merle Deneke; her children, Ronald E. Summers (Margret), Julia D. Agee (Lance) and Jane Jenkins; six grandchildren, Mande Watkins (Tony), Derek Jenkins, Jordan Strode and Stephan, Nicholas and Barbara Summers; three great-grandchildren, Trey, Connor Beth and Camryn Watkins; nieces Laura Green (Randall) and Karel Arnett (John); a nephew, Robert E. Deneke Jr. (Pam); and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the chapel, with the Rev. Tom Bass officiating, assisted by Randall Green. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 10820 Sunset Office Dr., Suite 220, St. Louis, MO 63127, or the Sikeston Area Humane Society, 1900 Compress Road, Sikeston, MO 63801.

Online condolences may be shared at: www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com.