1933-2025
Elizabeth “Betsy” Joyce Drennan, 92, of Winfield, KS passed away Saturday, September 27, 2025.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, October 3, 2025 at Grace United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 P.M. Thursday, October 2, 2025 at the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Winfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, the Winfield Arts & Humanities Council, and the Winfield Main St., donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home.
Betsy was born June 11, 1933 in Lockhart, TX to parents Afton and Marguaritte (McDonald) Johnson. She was raised and educated in San Antonio and graduated in 1955 from the Texas Women’s University in Denton, TX with a major in Primary Education. Shortly after graduating, Betsy flew to Ramstein, Germany to marry the love of her life, Donald Dean Drennan, who was serving in the Air Force there.
The couple returned home to Winfield and raised their three sons: Douglas Dean, David Dwayne, and Darrel Don. Betsy eagerly followed her kids’ interests and all their sports and activities. She began teaching in 1965 and started the PreK program at Lowell and the Title 1 program. She continued teaching in the lower grades until her retirement in 1994. As would be expected of a professional teacher, she was active in NEA, KNEA and the Winfield Teachers’ Association, always looking for ways to improve the learning experiences of her young charges.
Betsy became a member of Grace United Methodist Church in 1956 and served on many of the church boards and committees over the years, and she enjoyed helping with VBS. She was a pillar of the Winfield community and was a member and officer in many organizations. She was an active member of the Chapter FD/PEO, Delta Kappa Gamma, and was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary, and a member of the Winfield Rotary Club. She was also a lifetime member of the William Newton Hospital Auxiliary and she was honored by Winfield Corner Bank for her community service.
Betsy and Don were gracious hosts and opened their home to many people throughout the years. They hosted exchange students as well as Stage 1 performers. She worked to find host families for Southwestern College international students and was a surrogate mother to many students. She enjoyed being a world traveler, gardening, decorative painting, and spending time with her family. Her enthusiasm and love for her community and family were infectious, and her years of teaching and hours of service will continue to better the lives of those who knew her.
Survivors include her sons: Doug and wife Jan of Winfield, David and wife Marilee of Tonganoxie, and Darrel and wife Heidi of Fayetteville, Arkansas, granddaughters: Elise, Eva, Alexandria and Tally, and great-granddaughter Georgia Marie, step-grandchildren: Holly Schmidt and David Allen Van Sickle; Step great grandchildren: Sarah, Haylee, Casey, Tanner, Michael, and Alexandra.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother.
