Betty Kirsten O'Bannon

Betty Kirsten Vesgaard O’Bannon, 97, passed away peacefully with her children by her side, Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Monroe Manor Cottages in Paris, Missouri.

Betty was the youngest child of Peter and Maren (Jensen) Vesgaard.  She was born on October 19, 1926, and was raised on the family farm in Alta, Iowa.  Betty graduated from Alta High School in 1944, and attended Electronic Radio and Television Institute in Omaha, Nebraska.  After graduating from the Institute, she moved to San Bernardino, California to work as a teletype operator at an Army base.  Betty relocated to Dallas, TX, to work for a radio production line factory and later was employed in the office of Ripley Shirt Factory.  In 1948, she returned home to Iowa, and was employed by Iowa Public Gas Company.

On May 8, 1949, Betty married Roger O’Bannon.  In 1950, Betty and Roger moved to a farm south of Madison, MO, and raised their five children.

Betty was a member of the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa, and attended Mt. Airy Baptist Church near Madison.  She also was a member of the Monroe County Democratic Club, Madison Homemakers Club, Middle Grove 4-H Chapter Leader and served on the Monroe County Extension Council.  She loved her pet dogs, researching family genealogy, traveling and her rose gardens. 

Betty is survived by all of her children, Kristine Elsbury, Paula O’Bannon, Michael (Donna Lou) O’Bannon, Kevin (Marilyn) O’Bannon, Gail (Tim) Thompson; 10 grandchildren: Neil, Marla, Eric, Bryan, Patrick, Shelly, Jay, Jeffrey, Blair and Brooke. She also is survived by 19 great-grandchildren: Keely, Faith, Trenton, Shelby, Owen, Nora, Tristen, Asher, Amryn, Taylor, Mackenzie, Connor, Joseph, Guy, Bannon, Grey, Braylin, Kade, Isla, Campbell, one great-great grandchild, Callahan, and sister-in-law, Edyth (O’Bannon) Wood.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son-in-law, Lonnie Elsbury, great grandchild, Annaston Elsbury, brothers and their spouses: Gunnard and Louise Vesgaard, Reynhart and Doris Vesgaard; sisters and their spouses: Edna and Elwood Loving, Martha and Charles Nielsen. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard and Marilyn O’Bannon, Bill and Ruth (O’Bannon) Harrison, and brothers-in-law, Duane Madison and Arlen Wood.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Madison, Missouri, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be appreciated in Betty’s memory to the Monroe County Cancer Supporters or the Madison Community Center.

Local arrangements are under the direction of PATHWAY-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, Missouri 65270 (660) 263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.