Betty Jo (Keith) Tedrow
Betty Jo (Keith) Tedrow (my mom) died Saturday morning (March 9th) in Blessing Hospital. She was 82 years old. Months of recent illness came to a head with two very short – and incredibly long – weeks on life-support to a non-recovery. In the end, she was at peace, surrounded by her family who loved her, and she loved dearly.
My mom was born in Quincy, Illinois in 1941 to Joseph and Dolores (Nordstrom) Keith. She married my dad, Stan Higgins, who preceded her in death in 1977. She later married Jim Tedrow. My mom and dad (Stan) had three daughters: Shelly (Bobby) Higgins, Mary Higgins, and Cheri (James) Wolf (me). My mom had seven grandchildren: Abbie Holthaus, Parker Higgins, Alex Higgins, Jacob Wolf, Cody Wolf, Nicholas Wolf, and Maggie Wolf, and a great-granddaughter, Byrar Higgins, all of whom she loved and enjoyed just a little bit more than their parents. She was the oldest of nine and is survived by her siblings: Sherry Schmalshof of Quincy; Nancy (Larry) Avery of Boulder, CO: Annie (John) Bocke of Wausau, WI; Peggy Dailing (fiancé, Bob Daly) of Quincy; Dotty (Rod) Niehoff; Joe Keith and Becky (Dana) Joiner all of Quincy. Her parents Joe and Lolly, daughters Mary (in infancy) and Shelly, and her sister, Mary Kay Harbision, preceded her in death. Her partner of many years, Dan Voorhees, also preceded her in death. Numerous, very loved, nieces and nephews also survive.
Betty Jo was a Catholic and a graduate of Notre Dame High School. She worked at Sears Roebuck in Customer Service and other departments, for most of her adult life before retiring. After her retirement from Sears, she worked at Blumin’ Express Florist in Quincy.
My mom was a strong, independent women who was tough, generous, and kind. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, sewing, making floral arrangements, and gardening. Throughout her life, she formed many valued friendships. She loved her friends and considered them as family. Thank you to her many friends for sticking by her, visiting, and providing support in this last, very traumatic, year. Special thanks go out to her neighbors and Kelly’s family who she loved and cherished. Extra special thanks go out to her sister Dotty and husband Rod for always having her back and providing support and love when it mattered most.
Funeral services will be on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with Ralph Fairchild officiating. Interment will be in St. Boniface Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Duker & Haugh. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Quincy Humane Society, or a charity of the Donor’s Choice.
You will be missed, big sister. I love you ❤️
I will forever miss Momma Betty and her daughter Shelly they gave me 10 great years here.Thank you I will always love the both of you
I am so sorry, Cheri Jo. Parker and Alex Higgins and everybody else.
I am so sorry for your loss! You are in my prayers!
Parker, Halee, Bryar, Alex, Becky, & Family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Betty was such a kind, loving, soft spoken, beautiful lady. She lit up Kelly’s with all her family & friends there and wherever she was she just had that aura. She can now wrap her loving arms around Shelly again and rest in peace and love with all the Angels above. Sending you prayers and hugs.
My deepest condolences to all of you.
Respectfully,
Jodi Schaffnit-Bliven
I offer my sympathy, love, and prayers to all the family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. My sympathy, love, and prayers go out to all the family.
I never met you or the rest of your family, Mrs. Tedrow, but you raised a wonderful daughter Cheri, my friend. May you rest in peace. May your family and friends find comfort with you in their hearts.
I’ll miss you, Aunt Betty.
Love, Beth
Beautiful Betty! You will be missed so much by so many. Our family created so many fun (wild and crazy) memories with your family many years ago when Angie, Shelly, and Cheri were young. We will carry them with us forever. ❤️💔❤️
Cheri and family..I am so sorry for your loss..I worked with Betty at Sears for many years..She was a wonderful person. She will be greaty missed. Heaven will have another angel…
Prayers to the family. Betty was such a fun person, had good friends, and loved her family. I enjoyed knowing her over the years and will miss her wit and our conversations.
I’m sorry for your loss. A distant relative sent me the obit. My interest is with your aunt, Betty Jo’s, sister, Peggy Dailing. My guess, former spouse is or was a cousin of mine. I have always been interested in the Dailing roots. I was born in Quincy, 1942 and for the last 50 years have lived in upstate NY. I return to Quincy often to visit family and friends.
Cheri, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. She was as sweet as they come. I’m the lady that you and Shelly use to come and visit next door to Frank Griffey, you girls would wash my car,(a brown Honda Civic). Please accept my deepest sympathy for your losses. Love and prayers.
Potties,
Know that you and your family are in thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Gob bless you and give you strength and comfort.
Only knew Betty for a few years. She was always positive, and a wonderful Lady! She will be missed. My sympathy to her Family. We will miss you!
We are so very sorry for your loss! Periodically, we would see Betty at Kelly’s or at Dotty and Rod’s house. She always had a beautiful smile and enjoyed life.
I will grieve with you, for you and all her family and friends.
I knew Betty at N.D. in the middle 1950’s. We dated for a while. She was a beautiful, cheerful girl.
I turned 18 in November 1956 right after graduation from Notre Dame.
I entered the US Navy on January 17, 1957.
I tried after a few years to locate Betty but, didn’t know that she married so – – no last name.
She was on my mind many times.
Seems that I’m always finding my classmates after Heaven takes them.
I pray for Betty, you, and the rest of her sisters and family. I so wish I could have been there with her and family but, I just had a premonition and looked her up again today. My father always said I was a day late and a dollar short. I guess he was right.
May God Bless her and hold her in the palm of His hand.
Sincerely,
Nick
You’re an Angel in Heaven now.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETTY🙏