Betty Ruth Maxwell

Betty Ruth (Michener) Maxwell, aged 96, passed away peacefully at the Sundale Nursing Home in Morgantown, West Virginia on October 12, 2025. Betty was born on May 4, 1929 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the eldest child of Guy Leroy Michener and Frances Louise Brauer. Little brother Robert (Bobby) Dean Michener came along a few years later, after the family had moved to Knoxville, Iowa. Betty attended Kindergarten and elementary school in Knoxville and then after a brief stint in New Providence, the family moved to Des Moines where she finished Junior High and her first two years of High School. She was then off to Scattergood Friends School in West Branch, Iowa where she was one of the five members of the Junior Class that fall. After graduating from Scattergood in 1947, Betty completed her college education at the University of Minnesota, majoring in English with a minor in Child Welfare.

Betty was first introduced to Bob Maxwell by a family friend in 1947, and their courtship began the following summer. They were engaged in June 1950 and married on Christmas Eve of that year. Eventually they settled into life on the Maxwell family farm near Earlham, Iowa which proved to be a somewhat challenging transition for this young "city girl". Before long however, Betty's contributions were significant and MANY. With the birth of little Stevie in 1952, she took on yet more responsibilities. Those early years were difficult financially and Bob eventually returned to school for a teaching certificate in order to provide some non-farm income. But they didn't let a little issue like poverty get in the way of increasing their family size! Danny was born in 1955 followed by Timmy in 1958. Their lives became increasingly busy and challenging with Bob farming and teaching, and Betty mothering 3 little boys and managing both her farm and household chores. And then something happened which would change their lives forever…

One sunny afternoon in the spring of 1960 Betty stumbled onto a notice in the Quaker Life journal that Earlham College (Richmond, Indiana) was embarking on an educational project in Kenya with a grant from the State Department's International Cooperation Agency (the predecessor to USAID). The intent was to launch a day secondary school for African boys and they were seeking a vocational agriculture teacher. Betty quickly called this to Bob’s attention that evening and the rest is history. In July of that year (after some major scrambling), with 3 little boys in tow and Betty 7 months pregnant, the Maxwells boarded a plane in Des Moines and headed off on a 2-year adventure to the rural and somewhat isolated community of Chavakali, in western Kenya. Baby Krissy (finally a girl!) was born there a couple months after their arrival. Betty and Bob often joked later that most of their family and friends in Iowa were convinced they were completely nuts!

As fate and family circumstances would have it, this first tour led to a second 4-year tour in Kenya between 1964-68 (this time based in Nairobi) and then a similar stint in Tanzania between 1975-79 (based in Dar es Salaam). There is no question that these many years in East Africa had a major impact on Betty. Life on the equator (quite a contrast from the plains of Iowa), complete immersion in the local culture, the countless family safaris, the exciting travel opportunities, and the many good friends made along the way all left Betty with not only an enormous sense of gratitude but also a treasure trove of memories.

In between their East African tours, Betty and Bob lived in upstate New York and then in Elkins, West Virginia. They were both particularly enchanted with the beautiful green rolling hills of West Virginia and agreed that someday they really wanted to own a little piece of that Appalachian paradise. Well, another major milestone occurred in the spring of 1973 when Betty discovered an idyllic property up on Cheat Mountain, south of Valley Head. It didn't take her long to convince Bob that this "55 acres, more or less" was exactly what they had been looking for. This farm served as the family's central hub for nearly 36 years, with countless family gatherings in the summers and around various holidays. Upon their final return from Tanzania in 1979 they settled in Morgantown (only a 2-hour drive from the farm) with the intention of dividing their time between life in the quaint little university town and their mountain top retreat with the proverbial “million-dollar view”.

Betty held a number of interesting jobs during her lifetime including several stints in Iowa libraries (in her early years), raising and butchering hundreds of chickens (on the Iowa farm), a role with the British Friends Service Council (in Nairobi), working in the main Cornell Library (Ithaca, NY), an administrative position in the Vice President's office at Davis & Elkins College (Elkins, WV), and an Executive Secretary role at the U.S. Information Service (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania). She had a lifelong passion for reading and books and at one point started working towards a graduate degree in Library Science. After settling in Morgantown in 1979 however, Betty found engaging work in the new Gerontology Center as program manager, a position she maintained and relished for 17 years.

Betty's increasing involvement in aging issues and elder care led her and Bob to participate in the early planning and development of Morgantown's first community-based retirement home. This effort ultimately led to the creation of The Village at Heritage Point, where Betty and Bob became Founding/Charter residents in mid 1999. After Bob sadly passed away later that year, Betty received multiple invitations from her far-flung children to come and live with them, all of which she graciously declined. She always believed that this decision had been the right one for her. She loved Morgantown and the Village at Heritage Point, and the large and loving community that she built there during her 26 years of residence.

Betty was always a quiet force in her family. She never sought recognition but her impact behind the scenes was unmistakable. A devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother (and great grandmother!), she was “the glue” that bound the family together. She was a true matriarch. Betty lost her husband, best friend, soul mate, and life partner Bob in October 1999. Far too early. But she will be fondly remembered by her 4 children, Steve (Susi), Dan (Joyce), Tim (Susanne), Kris (Dan), her 9 grandchildren (Nick, Beck, Patrick, Clare, Eli, Sal, Abby, Katie, and Bobby), and 3 great grandchildren (Noah, Mae, and Serafina). Several years ago, Betty wrote a short collection of her life's memories and ended by musing "Did that wonderful life really happen to me?" It is safe to say that all of her family and friends would resoundingly agree that "Yes Betty, it certainly did!" And the memories that they all have of you and your amazing life and legacy will live on within their hearts and minds forever.

Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.