Betty Rose Deming (nee Marler) Sun., Nov. 5, 2023
Beloved wife of the late James Robert Deming; dear mother of Roberta,
Janet Deming and Terri (the late Richard) LoRusso; dear grandmother of
James LoRusso and Anthony (Shiori) LoRusso, and James Deming and
Ashley Deming; dear great-grandmother of Leonardo, Luca, Lena and Louis
LoRusso; dear sister of the late Jane Ortner, Lillian Eaton, Carol Goggin,
Nedra Barbre, Sally Lundy, Evelyn Miller, James Marler, Noah, Louis, and
Fenton Marler; our dear friend to many.
Betty Rose Marler started her life in the small southeastern Missouri town of Mill
Springs in 1937.  She was one of 11 children, smack dab in the middle. By the
age of 16, she couldn't wait to kick the dirt off her shoes and leave heading to the
big city of St. Louis.  Taking business classes were a breeze for Betty, passing
shorthand, typing and other clerical tests with flying colors.  When she graduated
from high school, she already had a job waiting for her.  She was on her way!
A few years later she met the love of her life, Jim Deming and they married in
1957.  Three daughters followed, completing the family.  Jim worked 2 jobs for
many years to get ahead.  Betty became the stay-at-home mom.  Home life
offered new opportunities for her to conquer.  Their ranch home in the suburbs
had a large yard that required upkeep.  Betty jumped in and was a quick study in
almost everything she set her mind to…plumbing, electric wiring, laying tile,
landscaping & gardening.  She tackled domestic chores with ease.  She became
a fantastic cook, including baking cakes, pies, and cobblers daily to satiate Jim's
sweet tooth.  Every summer Betty maintained a vegetable garden and had a deft
hand managing her flower beds..  She was a genuine "Jill of all trades."
As her girls required less of her time, she yearned for more to conquer.  She
mastered the skills of quilting, crochet and embroidery.  Many people were
blessed receiving gifts of her beautiful handiwork.  She also became an
established artist who dabbled in scenes from her Bible of Christ, the disciples,
and other beautiful landscapes.  In her late 30's, Betty decided to go to
Cosmetology College and, of course, she glided right through.  The "Kitchen
Table Salon" opened with perms, haircuts, hennas, and ear piercings.  But her
most valuable service were words of wisdom from Betty!  She held court with
many of her daughter's girlfriends and shared her life's philosophy with them.
Dear Betty was known to make girls blush with down to earth advice on dating,
boys & how to get out of uncomfortable situations  with boys or any other manner
of things.  Her daughter's friends adored her!
When the girls eventually left the nest, Betty and Jim settled into a comfortable
time of their lives.  Their focus could be on each other again.  Grandchildren
started to arrive and Betty was in heaven on earth.

Unfortunately, this came to a screeching halt when Jim was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer just a few
weeks after he retired.  They fought for two years but in the end, he had to say
goodbye.  Betty was heartbroken witnessing the great outpouring of grief for the
family's loss of their steadfast Rock.
Another chapter of Betty's life began.  While she continued to enjoy watching her
grandchildren, there was a void that couldn't be filled.  She started to care less
about the perfection of her home, bills were stacked up waiting for her attention,
she no longer enjoyed playing Mah-Jongg on the computer and dishes piled up
in the sink.  Her daughters agreed being on her own alone without her dear Jim
at the homestead was too much for her.  Fortunately, she was able to sell her
home in the suburbs and move next door to her youngest daughter Terri, her
husband Rich and the grandsons.  It was the perfect arrangement and she
became engaged in life again.  With Betty content and busy in her new
endeavors, her early signs of dementia were not quickly noticed.  Thankfully, she
was able to stay well managed at home next door and continued to live a fruitful
life even after her Alzheimer's diagnosis.  She had multiple caregivers who made
a huge impact in her happiness and contentment.  Eventually, she had to move
to a Memory Care Unit near her home.  She lived out her last year and a half with
a smile on her face and a dance in her step.  The staff loved her sweet manner
and her gift of keeping all the table surfaces "clean".  Keeping everyone happy
and clean was something she never lost.  Quite a gal and loved by many, our
Betty was simply the best!

Visitation at Ortmann's, 9222 Lackland Rd., Overland, Sat. Nov. 11 from
10-11 a.m. Service at 11 a.m. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association appreciated

Ortmann Funeral Home www.osfuneralhomes.com