Betty Foster

Betty Lou Stottlemyre Foster 88, of Smithville, MO passed away November 7, 2026.

She was born on February 5, 1938, in Brownsville, TX. Betty was raised by her grandparents Bug and Mooney and she graduated valedictorian from Yoakum High School in Yoakum, TX. In the early 1960’s she moved to the North Kansas City, MO area where she made her home until 1973 when she moved to Smithville, MO.

Betty was a secretary for VT Industries in North Kansas City. In the late 1970’s she started working with her daughter Jan at Hillside Restaurant in Smithville where she did anything and everything that needed done. She took pride in making sure all the customers were taken care of. While working at Hillside, she met her husband, Jim Foster. They married on July 6, 1985, on a pontoon boat on Truman Lake. After their marriage they made their home in Smithville.

Betty also started her own cleaning business, cleaning many houses in the area to many loyal customers. She enjoyed fishing and mushroom hunting with Jim. While raising her children, she was an excellent seamstress, making clothes for her children. Most of all Betty loved being a mom and taking care of everybody.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Kelley DeLene Stottlemyre and her husband Jim Foster.

She is survived by her children Brenda K. (Jeff) Gilliam, Janice E. Hopson and Monte L. Stottlemyre; step-children Jimmy Foster, Jamie Foster, Jeremy Foster and Jo Foster; grandsons Elliott Gilliam (Maggie), Ben Stottlemyre (Mel), Trenton G. Hopson, and Corey Stottlemyre (Amanda); great-grandchildren Grayson, Gray, Judah, Hazel, Mabel, Luther, Ryan, and Charlotte; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her roommate Kelly, her hospice nurse Wendy and everyone else at Avalon View Health and Wellness nursing home for wonderful care of Betty.

Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Funeral Services at 2:00 p.m. all Thursday, November 12th at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Smithville.
Burial will be at Community of Smithville Memorial Cemetery, Smithville, MO.

Donations may be made to the Honor Flight of Kansas City PO Box 64718, Kansas City, MO 64188 OR Yoakum High School 315 E Gonzales St, Yoakum, TX 77995 for the Bulldog Beautification Project OR Avalon View Health and Wellness Activities Department 1200 West College St. Liberty, MO 64068.