Betty Jean Sprague, 77, of Colony, passed away Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, at Allen County Hospital in Iola.
She was born on June 18, 1936 in Colony, the daughter of Lester and Erma Pearl Cole. Betty began school in Colony. As a young girl, she had fond memories of riding ponies and being on the farm with her family. She discovered her cooking skills after taking home economics in school. Her brothers remember her for helping their mother in the kitchen and helping to take care of them. At the age of 16, she began working in the concession stand at the local drive-in. Betty graduated from Iola High School in 1954.
On Feb. 14, 1956, Betty was united in marriage to Harold Sprague. When they were dating Harold joked that he wanted 23 kids, later revising that number to 17. Betty still agreed to marry him and they went on to have seven children between the years of 1957 and 1974.
Betty took care to clean the house and especially “encouraged’ the children to help. She was awesome at cooking and canning, even winning Grand Champion at the Kincaid Fair with some of her entries. Her children remember her for her homemade doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon rolls. Betty began work outside of the home after her youngest child was in school. She started out working in the sewing factory in Iola, then in Burlington and Chanute. She then worked at Midland Brake, where she often took cinnamon rolls. After many years at Midland Brake, then Haldex, Betty retired at age 62. Betty also raised and sold exotic birds, at one point, raising over 100 at one time. Harold began tractor pulling in the late 1960s and she went along too, missing only one due to the birth their son, Larry. These tractor pulls took them all over Kansas and to Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. They stopped pulling in 1981, but Harold said they would still be doing it today if it was up to Betty. While her children were in 4-H, Betty was a 4-H Clothing Leader for High Point Club. She was a member of the Kincaid Advancers Club. Betty had quite a green thumb and enjoyed raising flowers and roses.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Erma Pearl Cole.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Sprague; her children, Doug Sprague, Colony, Vicki Sprague, Andover, David Sprague, Moore, Okla., Cheryl Cook and husband William of Rogers, Ark., Michael Sprague of Gas, Barbara Sprague, Wichita, Larry Sprague and wife Vickie of Webb City, Mo;
four brothers, Melvin Cole, Greeley, Colo., Edward Cole and wife Annette, LaHarpe, Charles Cole and wife Janet, Gas, Dean Cole and wife Beverly, Nixa, Mo; 13 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were this morning at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Colony. Burial ws in the Lone Elm Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Research (alz.org)
Betty Sprague
