Betty Hurd Smith Remus was born October 3, 1929, in Red Cloud, Nebraska, to Josephine and Henry Hurd. She died on July 16, 2025, at the age of 95 in Centennial, Colorado.
Betty married John Smith shortly out of high school and their union produced a daughter, Sherrill "Sherri", who was the delight of both their lives. As a family, they enjoyed taking Sherri and their granddaughters to Kirwin Lake where they had a trailer and boat and spent the summer days water skiing and napping on the top deck. Together, John and Betty built the Coast-to-Coast store in Smith Center. John died from a heart attack just prior to the grand opening and Betty ran and operated the store on her own for several years. At the time, this store was the largest Coast-to-Coast store in the United States, and she received several accolades, awards and trips as an accomplished businesswoman.
After John's death, Betty married Dale Remus, a real estate broker. Dale quickly became a cherished member of the family. Sherri worked for Dale in his real estate business and the grandkids adored him. Eventually, Betty and Dale left their businesses and purchased an Excel camper and enjoyed traveling the U.S. with their permanent home in Mission, Texas. Dale and Betty loved to square dance, dine out and socialize. Betty often said that the best years of her life were spent with Dale. They had a deep love and appreciation for each other and relished in their time spent together.
After Dale passed away, Betty kept busy with her club/card and exercise group activities and volunteering until she moved to Dallas, Texas, to be closer to family. She teamed up with her granddaughter Heather who helped her join the Preston Place community. She established friendships by joining card groups, attending church services, attending social activities and taking excursions. Betty's love for travel continued and she discovered new places with family and friends, checking destinations off her bucket list like Belize and Alaska.
Betty moved with Heather to Denver, Colorado, where she spent the remainder of her life in a group home close to her family so they could visit her daily and take her out to dinner, her favorite event. The staff and residents of the group home became a second family. They gave Betty so much love and care and she adored them.
Betty was proceeded in death by her parents; husbands; sister, Mary Corbett; brother, Jo Ed Hurd; stepson, Mark Remus; and grandson, Chris Remus.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Sherri Edwards; stepson, Michael (Genevieve) Remus; grandchildren, Jocelyn (Mark) Dannenberg, Heather (Mike) Schwerer, Nathan (Camilla) Miller, Sarai (Roderick) Powell, Brian Johnson, Peggy (James) Pohlman, Brock (Mandy) Remus, Jeffrey Remus, Mathew Remus; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Betty's children, grand- and great-grandchildren were the light of her life, and her face would beam at the sight of them. When asked, she always gave them the best advice. Everything works out for the best.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Kansas, with lunch following at Pooche's, 106 E. Kansas Ave., Smith Center, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Assured group home staff by check to Betty Remus Memorial or Venmo to Heather-Schwerer-1 (1605 phone digits).
All Faiths Funeral Chapel of Smith Center, Kansas, is handling the arrangements.
www.allfaithsfuneralchapel.com