Betty Jean (Krentel) Lanham passed from this life to the next on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the age of 100, while residing at Asbury Gardens Nursing Home, North Aurora, Illinois. She was born in Bloomington on October 7, 1924, to Gustave and Rosa Etta Krentel.

She married the love of her life, H. Robert (Bob) Lanham on November 4, 1944. He passed on May 25, 2014. Her parents and sisters, Rosemary (William) Sheets and Ruth (Max) Butterfield, preceded her in death, along with newborn granddaughter Sarah Phillips. She is survived by daughters, Diana (Mikel) Phillips of Bloomington, Mariruth (Stephen) Overton of Batavia, Illinois; and son, Robert (Cathryn) Lanham of Roselle, Illinois; six grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

While in high school, Betty participated with dad, Gus, in target shooting events with the Bloomington Rifle and Pistol Club, even garnering a photo news story in the Daily Pantagraph. In later years, she became an avid cyclist, riding with the Pantagraph Area Ride Around Corn Country (PACRACC) from 1989 through 1996, including back-to-back 50-mile days.

All her life, in various churches in Bloomington and Normal, she enthusiastically served the Lord she loved. She was also a frequent participant in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home. Her service will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. also at the Memorial Home. A short graveside service will follow at East Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.

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