Betty Jean Souders, a long-time resident of Sterling Colorado, entered eternal life on Friday, January 6, 2023, surrounded by her sons.  Betty had just celebrated her 91 ^st birthday.

The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 10 ^th at 10:30 am at the Chaney-Reager Funeral Home at 443 South Second Street in Sterling, Colorado.  There will be a Celebration of Life luncheon after the service at The Sterling Elks Lodge.  The address is 321 Ash Street, Sterling, Colorado, 80751.  Betty believed in kindness so we did not pick a charity as she felt like a smile and a helping hand could brighten anybody's day.

She was born on November 30, 1931, in Champion, Nebraska to Ida Mable (Reuter) Griess and Edward Griess.  Betty was married to Lloyd Nelson Souders in Fort Collins, Colorado on March 10 ^th , 1951.  Her elder son Jerry Souders, of Sterling, and younger son, Rick Souders, of Golden, Colorado, survive her.  Betty is survived by her older sister Arlene Kinney.  Her honorary son Steve Heimbegner and wife Cher of Greeley, Colorado also survive her.  Betty's brothers Dale, Melvin, Ronald, Raymond, Jim, John, Wayne, Bob, and Morris are all deceased.  Her sister Suzanne is also deceased.  She is survived and loved by several nieces and nephews.

Betty worked at the Trinidad Benham Bean Factory in Sterling in her younger years.  She also worked at Snyder's Photo Studio and Schures Photo Studios in Sterling.  Betty loved photography.  She was an amazing hand color artist with colored pencils on black and white portraits and she loved printing black and white photographs.  Betty was very involved with friends and family.  Betty helped with projects for her younger son in Scout Troop 15 in Sterling.  Betty loved to bake.  She loved yard sales and refinishing antiques.  She had a green thumb and always had beautiful flowers and garden produce.  She enjoyed fishing, going on long drives in the country and having coffee with her sons and friends.  One of her favorite seasons was summertime and the butterflies.  Betty Jean, as her sisters affectionately called her, was a kind and caring person that always had a smile and would do anything to help friends and family, whatever their needs.

Travel with family was also a great joy for her.  She was able to go on a western Caribbean Cruise and travel through Canada.  In 2010 she was able to travel with Rick and Jerry to Australia to celebrate Rick's 50 ^th birthday.  Hawaii was on the agenda in 2014 to visit dear friends.  In 2016, she was able to travel to Iceland.