Betty Jean (Vanderford) Rogers, 72, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, passed away on February 14, 2024, after a year-and-half battle with scleroderma.
Betty was born on July 15, 1951, to Vester and Jeffie Margaret (Hendrix) Vanderford in Burnsville, Mississippi. Betty was gifted with great talent, intelligence, and focus. After Betty graduated from Tremper High School in 1970, she went on to study Information Processing at Gateway Technical College.
In 1973 Betty met Raymond Rogers. Betty married Raymond on March 11, 1974. Before finishing Gateway, financial hardship forced Betty to delay her education by 11 years. Despite this setback, Betty never lost sight of her goals. To generate income, Betty formed her own band, Betty Jean and the Country Express, in 1978 and kept it working for 27 years. She even hired her husband, Raymond, as the band’s drummer.
In 1985, Betty returned to Gateway, earned an associate degree in information processing, and graduated as class valedictorian. Before graduation, she was granted an internship at Case IH (then JI Case). After graduation, she was immediately hired full-time at Case in customer service where she implemented several impressive process improvements.
In 1997 Betty accepted an early retirement from Case so that her husband could accept a job requiring him to work a rotating shift. Again, Betty kept her goals in sight. She enrolled in Concordia University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and Communications and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2001.
Betty and Raymond were married for almost 50 years. Raymond credits Betty with his starting and finishing college and attending a church where he was baptized. Betty taught her husband how to type, how to play guitar, how to get a job and keep a job, how save and spend money, and how to stay fit. Betty’s love and determination never allowed Raymond to fail.
Betty was a good Christian. Before drifting off to never return, Betty thanked Jesus for the life that she had lived. Betty was a good friend who was never too busy to give advice and support to anyone who asked. Betty was a good sister who never faltered in her love for every member of her family. Betty was a good wife who never stopped believing in the man that she had married. Most of all, Betty was a good person who loved life and loved this world. But she left us quietly without pain to be with God and the family members that she missed so much.
In addition to her parents, Vester and Jeffie Vanderford, Betty was preceded in death by her brother, Charles V.; sister, Karen A; Karen’s new-born baby girl, Karen Jessica; and niece, Jessica Johnson. Betty is survived by her loving husband, Ray, sister, Margaret Hammock; twin brother, Danny; sister, Patty Clark; brother, David; and sister, Robin Stricklen.
Some believe that God picks the flowers and leaves the weeds. On February 14, 2024, God plucked a rare and beautiful violet. Words cannot begin to express how much she will be missed by her family and friends.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Proko Funeral Home & Crematory, 5111 60th Street, Kenosha, WI, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be held privately.
