Betty Bartelle Sylvester

Betty Joan Bartelle Sylvester, age 93, of Clay Center, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Leonardville Nursing Home.

She was born on May 25, 1932, in Green at her family home, the daughter of Foster Leroy and Jessie Grace (Moore) Bertsch.

On August 13, 1949, in Clarinda, Iowa, she married L.J. "Red" Bartelle, son of Effie Ward, and they had four children. He preceded her in death in 1999.

She later married Lyle Sylvester in 2003, and he preceded her in death in 2014.

Betty had many jobs during her career but especially enjoyed working as a clerk for KP&L and later as a daycare provider. She was a member of the Clay Center Covenant Church.

She is survived by four children, Dorinda Morrissette and husband John of Clay Center, Debbie Sump and husband Larry of Randolph, Jeff Bartelle of Kansas City, Missouri, and Joel Bartelle and wife Anita of Kansas City, Missouri; one brother, Forrest Bertsch and wife Kay of Kansas City, Missouri; eleven grandchildren, Jennifer Strehlow, Aaron Morrissette (Erin), Luke Morrissette (Amy), Kristi Kohli, Kori Braun (Dave), Cody Sump (Jenny), Autumn Cercone (Dominic), Rachael Goodman (Matt), Savannah Bartelle, Jacob Bartelle (Hadley), and Amanda Bartelle; twenty four great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, and her infant sister, Jacqueline Bertsch.

A celebration of Betty's life will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Leonardville Nursing Home and St. Croix Hospice and left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, PO Box 176, Riley, KS 66531.