Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Panke, 97, formerly of Frankfort, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at White Oak Health Campus in Monticello. She was born May 1, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, to John and Frances (Menten) Boland. On September 11, 1948, she married Alfred A. “Al” Panke; he preceded her in death on June 13, 2018.
Betty graduated from Wentzville High School in Missouri. In 1965, she and Al moved to Frankfort from Ottawa, Canada after also living in Indianapolis, Racine, WI, and Fort Wayne, IN. Betty and Al then made their home at White Oak in Monticello in 2011. Throughout her life, Betty was an Avon Representative and had worked at Alden’s and University of Missouri Book Store. She was a past member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she was a founding member of the Ladies of Charity and member of the Altar and Rosary Society. Betty was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Monticello. She was a world traveler making several Catholic pilgrimages to Rome, Medjugorje, and other locations. Her other memberships included Ladies of the Moose, Frankfort Country Club, Pink Ladies, Psi Iota Xi Beta Tau Auxiliary, Red Hat Society, Long Century, Friends of the Manor Board, Clinton County Home Ec Club, and Mother’s Club. Betty was an avid lover of the Civic Theatre and active in many social events throughout her life including bingo and book club with her new friends.
Betty is survived by her children, Dennis (Mary) Panke, of Arlington, VA, and Karen (Gregory) Wysong, of Monticello; grandchildren, Elizabeth (John) Berg, Kristin (Chris) Mein, Lauren Panke, and Katherine Panke; sister, Grace Panke, of Wentzville; and brother-in-law, Robert Swantner, of Wentzville.
In addition to her husband, Betty is preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Cynthia Gail Panke; sisters, Ruth Swantner and Alice Boland; and brothers, Leonard and John Boland.
On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, rosary service will begin at 11:45 a.m. at Genda Funeral Home in Frankfort. Visitation will follow at the funeral home from noon to the start of the Psi Iota Xi service at 2:15 p.m. Funeral mass will begin at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Frankfort with Fr. David Rasner presiding. Burial will follow in Green Lawn Cemetery in Frankfort. Memorials in Betty’s name may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church or Ladies of Charity. Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.
A special thanks to Betty’s friends at White Oak and staff and the ladies that picked up Betty to go various places-you know who you are.