Betty Ann Nye, 88, passed away unexpectedly Friday, December 7 at a local hospital. Betty lived a full and rich life raising a family of four, taking care of her husband Frank who preceded her in death, and caring for others around her as her faith dictated.
Betty had "dual citizenship" in Minnesota and Missouri but spent her last three years in Kansas. She loved her north woods dearly, always in wonder of the local wildlife and wildflowers of her native Minnesota. She loved quilting, sewing and other crafts throughout her life. Betty was a kind woman to all she met, willing to give those around her the proverbial shirt off her back if you needed it.
Betty was born Betty Ann Kuka on January 14, 1930. She was the only child of John and Alfreda (Weinholz) Kuka. She grew up in Minneapolis, graduating from St. Louis Park High School in 1948. In 1950, she met Frank Mellon Nye and they were married January 12, 1951. Frank was in the U.S. Army National Guard and stationed at Camp Ripley, Minnesota.
Shortly after their marriage, Frank was part of a federal call-up due to the Korean war and was posted to what was then Camp Rucker (now Ft. Rucker) near Enterprise, Alabama. The couple was adventurous, at one point using Frank’s furlough to motorcycle from southern Alabama back to Minnesota —a distance of 1,315 miles — to see their parents. The pair returned to Minnesota after the war ended in 1953.
While Frank worked for AT&T for 12 years, Betty made a home for him and their total of four children, Liz, Mike, Sue and Ginny. When Frank was offered a position as a communications specialist for TWA Airlines headquartered in Kansas City, they relocated to Kansas City, North, and built a house. The couple and their kids enjoyed free travel with the airline and took several trips over the years.
When Frank had put in 20 years with TWA and with the kids grown, Frank and Betty moved back to their beloved Minnesota. They built a beautiful home on a lake north of the Brainerd Lakes area. Though Frank had made the adjustment from being a Twins and Vikings fan to cheering for the Royals and the Chiefs, Betty never did. Her Vikings were near and dear to her heart throughout her life.
Betty lost the love of her life in March 2015. Though she hated to do so, she agreed to move back to Kansas City where her children could help her and they could see her more often. She settled into The Gardens at Creekside in Olathe and made many dear friends who will miss her very much.
She is also survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Marie Nichols and her husband Mike, Overland Park; son Frank Michael (Mike) Nye and his wife Jana, Overland Park; daughter Susan Ann Osbern and her husband Jim, Kansas City, Missouri; daughter Virginia (Ginny )Anne Feist, Duluth, Minnesota. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Services for Betty are at Blue Valley Baptist Church, Antioch Campus, located at 15100 Antioch Road, Overland Park, at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 12. She requested to be cremated and her burial will be with Frank at the Minnesota State Veterans’ Cemetery, Camp Ripley, Minnesota. She loved flowers, so those are welcome, but we encourage you to consider a contribution to your local animal shelter in Betty’s name.