Betty lives in Fairfax in a house on Sly Street, where she’s lived since 1992.
For her 95th birthday, Betty took a cruise in a convertible.
Betty Jane Cooper is pictured front left with her father and five siblings.
Betty graduated from Rock Port High School in 1947.
Betty Jane married DeWayne Johnson in 1950 and they had three children (pictured below), Debbie, left, Nancy Jill, middle, and Gary, right.
Betty Jane (Cooper) Johnson was born October 4, 1928, to Heiko and Minnie Cooper. Living near Hunter Cemetery south of Rock Port, Missouri, the Cooper farm was a playground for the children. Six children were born to Heiko and Minnie. Sadly, Minnie passed away at the age of 47 to cancer. Heiko eventually remarried and with that came five more children (one boy died as a young child). With 10 kids running around the house and farm, Betty said there were a lot of sibling quarrels, but also a lot of fun. Even one local resident who remembers riding by the Cooper farm with her parents as a child remembered always wanting to stop and play with the children there because it looked like they were having such a grand time.
Although living and laughing was their motto, it was also hard work. The Coopers raised chickens, cows, and hogs, and grew a large garden to feed their large family. What wasn’t eaten was taken into town on Saturdays and the family would get groceries in exchange for their homegrown fruits and vegetables, eggs, and cream. Not only was there garden produce, but they also had an orchard that included peach and pear trees. Betty remembers having to pick up cobs in the hog lot, as well as wood for the fire, and carry water from the well, which was down a steep hill, up to the house. She was also required to milk cows. With so many kids around, there was always someone complaining of being hurt. One time, Betty was feeling ill, but her parents just brushed it off. However, her appendix had burst. Eventually they realized it was serious and she was packed in ice and driven to the hospital in Maryville (that was before the hospital in Fairfax was built). She said from then on, she was always terrified of doctors. Betty said the family was poor, but definitely not poor in spirit, and she has such fond childhood memories. That happiness was also shared with the community in kind ways, including when her mother would feed the linemen who eventually brought electricity and phone service to her home and the countryside. She still remembers her phone ring was a long tone and then three short ones.
When not attending to farm chores, Betty and her siblings walked over a mile in rain, sun, or snow to the West Bend school. Once they finished the eighth grade, they were then bussed to the high school in Rock Port, where Betty graduated in 1947. All of her siblings attended and graduated from the same schools. Following graduation, Betty lived on the farm with her father until she married DeWayne Johnson in 1950.
DeWayne and Betty lived outside of Fairfax, Missouri. They had three children, Debbie, Gary, and Nancy Jill. DeWayne served in the United States Army during the Korean War and Debbie was actually born while he was away. Betty said that was one of the hardest things she had to go through. When DeWayne was discharged, he began farming and also carried mail on the rural route and occasionally worked in the post office. Betty stayed home with the children, but as they got older, she babysat for neighboring children and then later on worked at the Fairfax Laundry. The business did laundry for the local hospital. She also worked at the REA office in Rock Port for a brief time. In 1992, DeWayne and Betty moved to their house in Fairfax, where Betty still lives (DeWayne passed away in 2004).
Even though Betty is approaching her 96th birthday, age has not slowed her down. She still stays active and even was out washing her car in the July heat the day before this interview. Her daughter-in-law, Debbie, said heat never seemed to bother Betty much. She recalls that after marrying Gary, Betty’s son, she started helping them walk beans. That was the first time she’d ever done it. It was so extremely hot, but Betty was just like the Energizer Bunny, she just kept going and going, no matter how high the temperature reached. Betty is known for her culinary skills, baking delicious pies, hash brown casserole, cookies, and is revered for her homemade noodles. She makes her masterpieces and then along with her niece, Gloria Graves, heads down to Kansas City to dine with and visit her last remaining sister. At one time, she was also known for the lovely quilts she made for her growing family and she also embroidered. She even entered some of those quilts in fairs. While DeWayne was still alive, they also enjoyed attending concerts, jamming to the Statler Brothers, among others. Now she enjoys watching musical shows on TV, as well as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Her family of three children grew to include six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The youngest grandchild was even born on her birthday. Speaking of birthdays, Betty said her 90th birthday was a rainy one, but her 95th was sunny and absolutely perfect, especially because her daughter-in-law Debbie took her cruising in a convertible. With the sun on her face and wind in her hair, it was a glorious celebration! In her words, Betty was “just acting a fool!” She has also stayed active in her church, the Fairfax Baptist, where she’s been a member for around 70 years. She’s taught Sunday school and Bible school and DeWayne was also a deacon there. She has also provided many delicious meals for church dinners. Betty’s love for God, and her church, has lasted her whole life. She said that she and DeWayne would get up very early Sunday morning to milk the cows before they and the children would go to church and they were never or rarely ever late.
For her reasoning on what has allowed her to live such a long and wonderful life, Betty said, “I give all the credit to Jesus.” She also said it’s been a blessing to have such a large and loving family and to live in an amazing, close-knit community. She also joked that her closest friend, her niece Gloria, keeps her entertained and the two of them have lots of fun together. “It helps that she’s not a grouch,” she laughed. For Betty, there is no point in having a negative view of things and drudging sullenly through life. There are so many things to be grateful for and laughing and having a ball makes life so much more enjoyable! She remarked that having modern-day conveniences also helps; reaping the rewards of indoor plumbing, heating and cooling, and a washer and dryer. Betty said she now loves doing laundry! She remembers having to hang the clothes on clotheslines back in the day and they would freeze solid in the winter.
Loving to laugh, Betty Jane said she likes for people to be joyful and happy. “There’s a time to be serious, but I think when we have the opportunity to smile and laugh, it makes life so much better. I have been sick. I have been well. I have been happy. I have been sad. But I just think I’ve been blessed in a special way.”