Dorothy Jeannine Bethke

Dorothy Jeannine Bethke passed away on June 22, 2017, at the age of 88, surrounded by her family at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 27, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 26, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Dorothy was born on December 14, 1928, in Falls County. She was the daughter of Edwin and Beatrice Haak. She was a graduate of Marlin High School. On June 10, 1947, she married Walter Frederick Bethke and was a devoted wife for 63 years until his death in 2011. She was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Waco, Texas. She was a kind and loving mother. There is nothing that she would not do for those she loved. She continually put the needs of others before thinking of herself. She was very proud of her family and was so excited to be “Grannie” to her grandchildren and many others who came to know her. She loved holidays and family get togethers; any chance to spend time with her family was important to her. She would spend hours cooking and preparing for the event, making everything as special as possible. In her earlier years, Dorothy loved gardening, canning homemade pickles and various jellies. She enjoyed cooking, working in the yard, and watching her beautiful flowers grow. Later in life as her health began to decline, she enjoyed watching the birds from her kitchen window, working jigsaw puzzles, playing dominoes, working in her books, and watching The Price is Right, to pass the time. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Frederick Bethke; her parents, Edwin and Beatrice Haak of Marlin; a son-in-law, Randell Kyle, Sr., of Waco; and a grandson, Brandon Bury of Lorena. Dorothy is survived by her son, Jimmie Bethke and wife, Brenda, of Lorena; her daughters, Linda Nelson and husband, Harvey, of Katy, Betty Kyle of Waco, and Anita Garrett and husband, Ricky, of Belton; granddaughters, Jennifer Clark and husband, Kyle, of Southlake, Cristie Thigpen of Hewitt, Stacy Slone and husband, Jason, of West, Misty Bury of Elm Mott, Amanda Lee and husband, Joseph, of Waco, and Kayla Garrett of Lorena; grandsons, Eric Nelson of Austin, Randell Kyle, and wife, Sara, of Waco and Chas Bury and wife, Courtney, of Eddy; twenty great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter. The family would like to thank Dr. Elizabeth Turnage and her staff at the HFHC Bosque Clinic and Dr. Carl Chakmakjian and his staff at Texas Oncology for the outstanding compassionate care they provided to our Mom. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.