Bolander, Bettie L August 17, 1927 - June 9, 2025

Bettie Lou Zeiler Garrison Bolander was born on August 17, 1927, in Osceola, Missouri to John Wilbur Zeiler II and Lena Bell (Perkins) Zeiler. She was one of seven children. She went to her heavenly home on June 9, 2025, at 97 years old, in Clinton, Missouri.

Bettie attended grade school at Oak Grove School in Osceola, Missouri and 7^th through 12^th grades at Appleton City High School.

Bettie accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was sprinkled at the Appleton City Methodist Church and later Baptized at the Osceola Baptist Church. She was married to Leo Montell Garrison on May 26, 1949, until his death in 1978. She later married Cecil Bolander on December 11, 1988. She thought herself lucky to have had two loving husbands; one the father of her children, and one who thought of her children, grandchildren, and family as his own.

Bettie worked 23 years as a ward clerk at Sac-Osage Hospital and before that had worked at Ellett Memorial Hospital, Osceola Hatchery, and a bank in Kansas City.

Bettie was preceded in death by her father and mother, husband Leo, husband Cecil, four sisters; Dorothy, Helen, Joan, and Edith, and her brother Leo “Sonnie”.

Bettie is survived by her loving children, Deona (Rick) Reed, Marla (Warren) Love, Monty (Beth) Garrison, and Robert (Teresa) Garrison, as well as her grandchildren, Holly (Tracy) Fletcher, Robin (Eivind) Listerud, Sam Reed, Sarah Reed, Elizabeth (Steve) Wilhelm, Charles (Valerie) Love, Anna (Gary) Crusha, John (Kaela) Love, Stefan (Chloe) Garrison, Jordan (Silas) Garcia, Rob (Dana) Garrison, and Carmen (Tim) Marshall, her great-grandchildren Clayton Cutler, Lexie (Travis) Carr, Dylan Roeder, Evan and Preston Listerud, Tristin, Holden, and Gavin Reed (Brandy), Jace, Laney and Weston Uchtman, Logan and Olivia Wilhelm, Brooklyn, Warren, and Stella Love, Maura, Sophia, Gretchen, Victoria and Jack Crusha, Otis Love, Graylee Garcia, Robert Leo Garrison III, and Addison Marshall, great-great grandchildren Kenley and Bailey Carr, Paisley and Brylinn Cutler, sister Martha Thomas, as well as two of her good friends Barb Cutler, and Eleanor Ratliff, many nieces, nephews, other family, many friends and 2 grandsons on the way.

Bettie will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother (Granny Bettie), and sister by her family. She was a country girl at heart. Family favorites were her homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, sour cream raisin pie, sugar cookies, and peanut brittle. She loved decorating, cooking, dancing, country music, flea markets, yard sales, and watching her grandchildren play basketball. Bettie finger crocheted over the last three or four years, almost 100 afghans for her family and friends. She always had pink flamingo lipstick on and she loved Family Christmas Eve at her home. Her most prized possessions were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

When getting off the phone with her children, they would always say, “love you, mom.” And Bettie would always say, “love you more.”

She will forever be remembered in our hearts as the most loving and generous mom and grandma. To know her was to love her. We will miss you ever so much mom.