Betty Van Sickle would often say, “If it is raining and cloudy outside, you have got to make your own sunshine.” This was how Betty lived her life. She made lots of her sunshine by helping others. She taught English as a second language, volunteered at a nursing home, and joined a sewing club, not to sew, but to iron the fabric so others could sew. At St Mark’s Lutheran Church she served as treasurer, office assistant, and she taught catechism classes.

Betty Lee Hartenbower was born March 2,1927 in Eureka, KS. During her youth she helped her parents in both of their restaurants and on their farm. Undoubtedly, Betty learned from her parents, Jesse and Bernice Hartenbower, that success comes from hard work and treating others right.

Betty attended Emporia State University where she met Tom Van Sickle, and they were married on December 22, 1947. Betty was fond of saying that she had two boys in less than 13 months. That was true because Tom and Betty were surprised to have twin boys, born during a snow storm, on January 30th, 1949. After the birth of Jeff and Gregg, Betty partnered with Tom to open and successfully operate Tom Van Sickle Inc. for 25 years. The store carried televisions and appliances, including some of the first color TVs and microwave ovens in Emporia. Betty was the shop’s best sales person, likely because she always remembered peoples’ names and provided excellent customer service.

Jeff and Gregg both graduated from The University of Kansas. Gregg went to Northwestern Medical School and Jeff, after obtaining an architecture degree, completed a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at the City College of New York. Both careers were built in part from Tom and Betty’s encouragement to work hard, help others, and be brave enough to follow your passion.

Betty did a lot of remarkable things in her life. She took up golf at age 55. She loved to dance. At age 80 she performed in a dance recital. Remarkably, Betty was even ahead of her time in technology as she had a cell phone and was sending text messages when texting first became available. Betty embraced adventures and had such fun traveling with Tom. They especially enjoyed Amsterdam and spent a lot of winters in Citrus Hills, Florida. Betty visited her children and grandchildren in cities across the country.

As spouses and grandchildren joined the Van Sickle family, each ended up loving Betty for her unique ways of embracing them as new family members, such as creating special nicknames for them, and even writing “Welcome to the Family” on the mirror with lipstick.

The best memories of Betty are how special she made us all feel. As one of her sons expressed, “Betty made us feel like a million bucks because she truly wanted to hear about our lives.” She spent hours playing cards with her grandchildren. Betty gave the most wonderful hugs, and she had her own special sayings that became messages of comfort. She would say, “ I love you the most.” When you were away from Betty she would say “put your arms around yourself and give yourself a big hug.” She would sign off on all correspondence with “Love, Hugs and Prayers.” When we repeat Betty’s special sayings, we are passing along her love. Betty also said “God is with me now and is my constant companion. God is filling my mind with peace and courage and will never leave me.”

Betty Lee Hartenbower Van Sickle passed away at her home on September 6th, 2026.

We know that today Betty would tell us all to put our arms around ourselves and each other, and give ourselves a big hug.

Betty is survived by a beautiful family that spans four generations: Betty’s loving husband of 78 years, Tom Van Sickle; her sons Gregg (Carey) Van Sickle of Topeka, KS and Jeff (Janice) Van Sickle of Wichita, KS; her grandchildren, Jason Van Sickle of Wichita, KS; Jeana (Josh Best) Van Sickle of Minneapolis, MN; John (Molly) Van Sickle of Old Greenwich, CT; Jill (Brad) Harrison of Minnetonka, MN; Andrew (Erin Hill) of Milwaukee, WI; and Kelley (Thomas) Van Towle of Roeland Park, KS. In addition to their six grandchildren, they have ten great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Until we see her again, love, hugs & prayers to all of us from Betty.

Celebration of Betty’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday September 12th, 2026, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 1508 West 12th, Emporia, Kansas. A Memorial Fund will be established at Emporia’s St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and can be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801. You can leave online condolences at www.robertsblue.com