Betty Nielsen

Betty Joan (Bass) Graham-Nielsen, daughter of the late Duey and Eva (Kearns) Bass, was born October 11, 1932 in Willow Springs, Missouri and passed away December 12, 2016 at the Willow Care Nursing Home, Willow Springs, Missouri, following a long illness.

Betty lived in Mountain Grove, Missouri for a large part of her life. She was united in marriage to John D. Graham in 1948. Two sons, James and Billy, and six daughters, Anita, Nina, Kathy, Jeanie, Joyce, and Lois June, were born to this union. Betty was later united in marriage to Glen W. Nielsen in 1967. One daughter, Glenna, was born to this union. Also, two step-sons, Clifford and Larry, and two step-daughters, Betty and Carol, were joined together. Mr. Nielsen passed away in 1997.

Betty worked hard to help support her family and didnt have many hobbies until moving to Willow Care Nursing Home. It was there that she began getting involved in all kinds of activities and became their Queen of Hearts last year. She was very well taken care of and the family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff and everyone involved in her care at Willow Care Nursing Home.

Betty leaves behind a legacy and a multitude of friends and family that her life has touched. She will be dearly missed.

Besides her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lois June Graham; one step-son, Larry Nielsen; three brothers, Harold, Darrel, and Little Dicky Bass; and one sister, Lois Clatterbuck.

Betty is survived by two sons: James Graham and wife, Donna, of Lebanon, Missouri and Rev. Billy Graham and wife, Carolyn, of Mountain Grove; six daughters: Anita Young and husband, Jim, of Rogersville, Missouri, Nina Henry and husband, Robert, of Hartville, Missouri, Kathy Graham of Willow Springs, Missouri, Jeanie Walton and husband, Jim, of Mountain Grove, Joyce Bush and husband, Tom, of West Plains, Missouri, and Glenna Cross and husband, Danny, of Conway, Missouri; one step-son: Clifford Nielsen and wife, Mary, of Coffeyville, Kansas; two step-daughters: Betty Seyfreit of Florida, and Carol Nash and husband, Don, of Florida; two brothers: Thomas Red Bass of Topeka, Kansas and James Reed J.R. Bass of Indiana; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends in which she loved all, in her own special way.


Visitation: Thursday, December 15, 2016 from 9:00 - 10:00 AM at the funeral home.

Funeral Service: Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the funeral home.

Burial: Lone Star Cemetery, Mtn. Grove