Betty Juanita Leerskov Brenner, 99, of Russell, Kansas, died on May 06, 2019at the Brookdale East Senior Living Center in Wichita, Kansas.
Betty was born on May 10, 1919, in Atwood, Oklahoma, the daughter of Oscar M. and Maggie (Slaten) Bishop. Betty grew up in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Leo Noble “Swede” Leerskov on December 02, 1939, in Bowlegs, Oklahoma. From this union Betty and Leo were blessed with two daughters Yvette and Brenda. Her great pleasure was being a wife, mother and homemaker. She also enjoyed her avocation as a master seamstress and was employed in the fabric department at Bankers Mercantile in Russell for many years. In 1979, Leo died, after 40 years of marriage. Betty was fortunate to find love again and was united in marriage to Leo Brenner on February 17, 1984, and he also preceded her in death in 1986. Betty was a longtime member of First Baptist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell. She was very active participating in church groups and committees, Russell American Legion #99 auxiliary, Russell V.F.W. #6240 auxiliary and TOPS. She loved spending time with her many friends, sewing, knitting, ceramics, arts and crafts. She enjoyed attending performances at the Russell Community Theater, dancing with her husband and spending time and taking care of her family.
Surviving family include her two daughters Yvette Leerskov Ehrlich and husband Mel of Bakersfield, California and Brenda Leerskov of Wichita, Kansas; sister Kitty Kingsley of Santee, California, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, 3 brothers Gladstone, Alvin and Oscar M. Bishop and two sisters Foye Paasch and Dessie Griffith.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at 1 P.M. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with Reverend Paul Ellis Jackson officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, May 13, 2019, at the mortuary, with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Monday evening. Memorials may be given to the Russell Senior Center or Russell Community Theater and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.