Betty Jean Stephens, of Allen, Texas, passed away on February 2, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born to Oliver Albert Conrad and Rosalee (Schoppe) Kaltwasser on May 16, 1934 in Lyons, Texas.
She grew up in the Somerville, TX area surrounded by very close, multiple generations of Kaltwassers and Schoppes. Betty graduated from Somerville High School and enjoyed attending Homecoming, even recognized at her 70th reunion. Her girlfriends remained life-long friends laughing over Yeagua memories and sharing life experiences. After high school, she moved to Houston with her older sisters and later studied accounting at Paris Junior College.
Following college, Betty went to work at Texas A&M University for a short time. While there, she married and began her civil service career with the United States Air Force. The Air Force took the family to Texas bases in Bryan, Big Spring, Lubbock, and finally, she retired from Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas, where she raised her three daughters, Donna, Diane, and Jennifer. Betty proudly served 30 years in Air Force Civil Service, retiring as an Accounting and Finance Officer.
In 2011, Betty returned to Texas to live with her daughter Donna and family. As a devoted Nana, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida.
A name given to her by a special little boy, Micah Talley, she became known affectionately as “Mama Betty” to many—both family and friends—she was loved for the care, kindness, and support she freely gave. She enjoyed a good pot of coffee, working in her yard filled with heirloom plants, reading mystery novels, and, most of all, spending time with her family. Everyone enjoyed her backyard picnics with tables set up with bright tablecloths and flowers from her yard.
Betty was a lifelong Lutheran. As a girl, her family attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lyons where she was baptized, St. Peters Lutheran Church in Gay Hill where she was confirmed, and First Lutheran Church in Somerville where the family has a long history. As an adult, she was a charter member of Hope Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Arkansas. While living in Allen, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church became a church family to her. She will be laid to rest at her family plot in Lone Oak Cemetery in Somerville, TX.
Betty is survived by her daughter Donna Laster (Scott) of Allen, Texas; daughter, Diane Luckenbach (USAF Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tim Luckenbach) of Cabot, Arkansas; daughter, Jennifer Stubbs (Tracy) of St. Cloud, Florida. Grandchildren include Abbey and Lizzie Laster, Lindsay Nation, Emma Smith, Katy Bosco (Bryan), Sarah Morales (Gabe), Beth Stubbs; great grandchildren, Landon, Mattie, Jordan, Ryder, Creed, Alayna, Emmit, Julian, Lottie, and Bennett; sister Gloria Sager of Somerville, Texas; nieces and nephews, Karen, David, and Mark (Susan) Sager, Nan Foreman (David), Kathy and Julie Naylor; and numerous other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Ollie Naylor and husband, Dowell; nephew, Frank Naylor; niece, Brenda Pargac; and brother-in-law, Frank Sager.