Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Gelbach Kurth , age 90, passed way February 20, 2025.  She was born October 22, 1934 in Kansas City, KS.  She was the daughter of John and Catherine Waggener.

She was united in marriage to Stanley Lee Gelbach on March 15, 1952 in Denver CO, where Stanley was stationed in the Air Force at Cheyenne, WY.   Stanley preceded her in death on December 8, 1991.  To this union, they had 3 children.

On May 6, 1995, she married Jerome Kurth, who preceded her in death on December 31, 2015.

Betty was also preceded in death by her parents, and sister Linda Umano.

Surviving are her three children, Michael Jay (Jane) Gelbach, Pamela Kaye (Steve) Stanfill and Sharon Leann (Randy) Krenz, five grandchildren, Russ (Jody) Gelbach, Dylan (Tori) Gelbach, Amy (Jonathan) Burns, Eric (Rachel) Krenz, Emily (Adam) Serres, eight great grandchildren, Lennon Gelbach, Ellis and Mae Burns, Jordan Krenz, Will, Anna, Lily and Roy Serres, 1 sister, Kaye Waggener Caylor, 2 nieces Terri Kriegshauser , Marianne (Andrew) Romprey 1 nephew John Caylor and several great nieces and nephews.   Also surviving are Jerome's family, daughter Cindy (Donnie) Davis, son Craig (Ellen) Kurth and their children and grandchildren, Leah, James, Carter, and London Goodwin, Meagan, Michael and Quinn Fible, Alexandrea, Michael, Hudson, and Wyatt Garden and Zach Kurth.

Betty was raised and started school in Chicago, IL.  When she was in ninth grade, her family moved back to Edina, MO, where she graduated High School.

During her marriage with Stanley, they lived in Cheyenne WY, Lebanon, IL and Memphis, TN, while Stanley was in the Air Force. When Stan got the news that he would be stationed in Germany for 18 months, Betty moved in with her inlaws, Russell and Nina Gelbach of Edina, Mo and worked at Gibson Hospital.  They later moved to Kirksville, where Betty became a LPN and worked at Laughlin Hospital.  In the spring of 1955, they moved to the family farm, southeast of Hurdland, MO.  Being a city girl Betty had to learn all about being a farm wife, in which she successfully accomplished. She learned to cook for many farm hands (making 2 pies a day), planted and harvested a very large garden and canned and froze the proceeds, along with helping with every day farm chores.  Her first out of home job, was at Hollister's in Kirksville MO, where she worked several years and saved enough money to buy new furniture for the house and that is where she found her love for selling furniture and became employed at Kelly's Furniture Store in Edina MO and later became the manager. After Kelly's, she became a licensed masseuse and became the first massage therapist in Kirksville MO.    After Stanley's death, she moved to Kansas City, MO and worked part time at the Jones Store.

Betty enjoyed sewing, quilting, travelling and just being with people. Every child, grandchild and great grandchild has been gifted a quilt made with love by Betty.

She and Jerome spent their retirement years, spending the winters in Arizona and the rest of the year at their home at Baring Lake.   They were actively involved in restoration of the Baring Country Club, where Betty served as chairwoman for several years.  Betty was a member of Edina First Christian Church.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025, in the Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Edina, MO.  Visitation will begin Tuesday, at 10 a.m. and services will begin at 11 a.m. at the Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Edina, MO.  Pastor Paul Harvey will officiate the services.  Burial will be in Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville, MO.

Casket bearers will be Russ Gelbach, Dylan Gelbach, Eric Krenz, Adam Serres, Will Serres and Zach Kurth.

Memorials are suggested to Edina Christian Church or Knox County Nursing Home.  Memorials may be left at or mailed to Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1, Edina, MO 63537.

The family would like to thank the staff at Highland Crest, Knox County Nursing home and her caregivers, Shirley Ives, Michelle Watts and Vicky Torres for all the loving care they provided.

Online condolences may be left at www.hudsonrimerfh.com