Betty Louise Friend

Betty Louise (DeLashmutt) Friend, daughter of the late Dwight E. and Lottie Mae (Long) DeLashmutt, was born on February 13, 1927 in Monroe City, Missouri, and went home to be with the Lord on September 22, 2016 in Mountain Grove, Missouri. She was 89 years, 7 months, and 9 days of age.

Betty grew up and attended school in Monroe City. She was united in marriage to Derrel Friend on September 6, 1947, in Miami, Oklahoma. To this union five children were born. Betty stayed home and raised the kids while Derrel was in evangelistic work. Together they pastored churches in Lawrence, Kansas, Hartville, Mountain Grove, Fairview, Oak Ridge, and Dawson, Missouri.

Betty and Derrel made numerous missions trips to Haiti. They also made many trips to Jerusalem and The Holy Lands. They enjoyed going to Blue Creek Lodge, Colorado, for many years on family vacations.

Betty loved to go fishing at the catfish pond. She was an outstanding cook who was famously known for her tacos, as no one made tacos like Betty. Betty also enjoyed playing games and could sit and play for hours with her grandchildren. Some of her favorite games were Yahtzee, Sorry, and Rummikub.

Besides her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years: Rev. Derrel Friend; one daughter: Melba Juanita Friend; one granddaughter: Heather Jill Friend; one great-granddaughter: Cara Holley; one great-great-granddaughter: Brooklynn Jill Massey; four brothers-in-law: Chelmer, Don, Harold, and Gene Friend; and one sister-in-law: Melba Hudson.

Betty is survived by two sons: Webb Friend and wife, Becky, of Mountain Grove and Joe Friend of Mountain Grove; two daughters: Sharon Moore and husband, J.B., of Mesa, Arizona, and Marcia Davidson of Mountain Grove; seven grandchildren: Shad Friend, Holli Massey, Jordan Davidson, Michelle Davidson, Jennah Fiegenbaum, Lisa Cowling, and Jem Moore; nineteen great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; one brother: Mike DeLashmutt and wife, Frances, of Monroe City, Missouri; one sister: Maudie Cordia and husband, Jim, of Tustin, California; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.


Visitation: Monday, September 26, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Calvary Temple Church, Mountain Grove.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Calvary Temple Church, Mountain Grove.

Burial: Friendship Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: International Missions Outreach, in care of the funeral
home.