It is with deep sadness and love that we mourn the passing of Elizabeth Ann Holmes, our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, special aunt and friend! Betty, as we lovingly called her, passed away peacefully at hospice house July 1st, 2026, at the age of 98. Betty was born on May 24th, 1928, in Ellsworth, KS to second generation American immigrants Wenslow and Marie (Voss) Novotny. Betty was the oldest daughter of ten children and was raised in Palacky township on the homestead Kozieck place 9 miles northwest of Hollyrood KS. Betty was baking bread and butchering chickens from an early start and was so helpful that at twelve years of age she moved to Sylvan Grove hired out to manage other farmsteads. At fifteen she moved to Lyons to live with relatives where she worked doing laundry and, at the weekends, went dancing with her cousins and friends. Betty later moved to Hutchinson where her and her younger sister Dorothy lived together and worked together at the Hutchinson bag factory.

During her time in Hutchinson, out dancing, she met her future husband, Jim. They were the kind of couple that took to the floor, and everyone would step back and watch them dance the jitterbug faster than the rest. On October 13th, 1951, Jim, Betty, her sister Dorothy and fiancé Jack piled into Dorothy’s convertible after their last shift and drove to Arkansas to elope. The two sisters were in their curlers and flannel to get married before the courthouse closed, which is quite fitting! Together, Jim and Betty raised a daughter (Connie of Wichita) and two sons (Jim, Jr. of Hutchinson and John, deceased). Betty and Jim had a bit of acreage where they grew fruit trees, grape vines and a large garden. Betty was a homemaker who lovingly served her family, friends and community. She helped in the kitchen at Kansas Bible Camp; she coordinated fundraisers and volunteered with the low German suppers at Central Christian School. There is not cousin, neighborhood kid or school friend that didn’t know the love in Betty’s cooking! Jim and Betty worked hard but they played hard too! Every summer the young family took off camping and fishing in Colorado with cousins for a whole month where they made lasting memories.

Betty worked at Dillons deli counter for over ten years before she retired. Jim and Betty enjoyed the freedom of retirement to take frequent bus trips together and support their grandchildren. They were at every sporting event, program and after school. They were married for 53 wonderful and adventurous years, full of many camping trips with lots of fishing, often Betty catching the biggest fish and always cooking up something special to eat! Grandma Betty was known for what she called her “gran’ ma days” where she would take one of us grandkids or great grands out for an adventure whether it be a road trip, movie, a meal or just to look at our catch of the day. She left lasting love through her intentional thoughtfulness in the everyday anything. Our grandma Betty was the foundation of love in our family and it is clear that her love radiated farther than our family! There was not a person in her community who was not touched by her love whether it be a warm

meal, loving smile and an even warmer hug! Betty was a giving, caring soul who was daughter, sister and mother to so many outside of her immediate family. Her warmth covered others in love, and her memory is carried on in those who remember her humor, hugs and banana cake!

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2005), her son John (2012), her grandson Jeffery (2009), her sisters Marge (2019), and Dorothy (2022) her brothers Jim (1999), Bill (1987), Alfred (2016), Richard (2008), Jerry (1987), Dale (2016), Roy (2018). She is survived by her Daughter Connie Holmes of Wichita and Son and Daughter in-law Jim and Joy Holmes of Hutchinson, and Daughter in-law Vicki Dority of Branson Missouri. She is also survived by 6 Grandchildren, 16 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great Great Grandchildren. She is also by survived numerous loving nieces and nephews.

A memorial celebration of life will be held at Crosspoint church in Hutchinson July 7th at 1pm 1410 E. 30th