Elizabeth “Betty” Josephine (Vogel) Ellis
February 5, 1925 – April 24, 2020
Elizabeth “Betty” Josephine (Vogel) Ellis of McKinney, Texas, formerly of Bellevue, Nebraska, passed away April 24, 2020, at the Oxford Grand Memory Care Community in McKinney, Texas. She was 95 years of age and died from complications of the Covid-19 virus.
Betty was born February 5, 1925, near Garo, Colorado, to Gilbert and Marie Vogel. She graduated from North High School, Denver, Colorado, in June of 1943. On May 25, 1942, she and Orie “Ray” Ellis of Sylvia, Kansas, were married by a Justice of the Peace in Syracuse, Kansas. Following graduation and for the next 23 years, the couple lived in various locations throughout the United States and Spain, while Ray pursued a career in the military. In 1966, Major Ray Ellis retired from the United States Air Force and the couple took up residency in Bellevue, Nebraska.
For a time during WWII, Betty installed turrets in bombers, but then became a full-time wife, mother and homemaker. As a military spouse, Betty became a volunteer member of the Air Force Family Services Organization, serving for over 7 years, amassing more than 1000 hours of volunteer work and holding a variety of positions. Twice she was honored as the Sixteenth Air Force Family Services Volunteer of the Year.
While in Bellevue, Betty and Ray became very active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church and remained active for more than 25 years. Some of Betty’s activities included: Catholic Daughters of America, Friends of Francis, The Guild, the Bellevue Right to Life, Perpetual Adoration and the Legion of Mary Auxiliary. In her spare time, Betty enjoyed sewing, baking and decorating cakes. She was also a member of the Red Cross Gallon Club and in 2004 was recognized as the Catholic Woman of the Year.
Betty is survived by her son, Michael, and his wife, Peggy (Hartmann) Ellis of Le Mars, Iowa; daughter, Patricia (Ellis) Little, and her husband, Sidney Little of McKinney, Texas; six grandchildren, Wendy (Ellis) Tabbert of Le Mars, Iowa, Mark Ellis of Le Mars, Iowa, Matthew Ellis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Darron Little of Lubbock, Texas, Corine (Little) Jacinto of McKinney, Texas, and Cristelle (Little) Elias of Garland, Texas; 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband and parents, as well as her siblings (two sisters and a brother).
Visitation: Thursday, April 30, 11:00 a.m., at Bellevue Memorial Chapel.
Private Graveside Service: Thursday, April 30, Noon, at Bellevue Cemetery.
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