Betty Partridge

Betty Lou (Kellum) Partridge was born on November 9, 1932 in Melvern, Kansas to Ernest Edwin Kellum and Myrle Violet (Piper) Kellum. Her birth took place at home, with her grandmother assisting. Betty grew up in Peabody, Kansas, and graduated from Peabody High School. Her lifelong passion for music was influenced by her mother, an accomplished pianist who taught Betty to play. However, it was the clarinet, gifted to her in fifth grade, that truly captivated her. In high school, Betty excelled, securing the first chair clarinet position and earning a scholarship to Wichita State University, where she participated in both the Concert and Marching Bands.

While in high school, Betty sang in the Girls Triple Trio and joined the adult church choir, where she also sang solos. She directed music for the Vacation Bible School, a collaborative effort among Peabody’s churches, for three years. After two years as a Music Education major at WSU, Betty shifted her focus to vocal music, continuing her involvement in church music as a choir member, soprano soloist, and director of children’s choirs.

Betty began her teaching career in Marion, Kansas, instructing vocal music from kindergarten through high school. After marrying Joe Dale Partridge, she returned to Wichita to continue her career. She earned her Master’s in Music Education from WSU in the summer of 1968, subsequently teaching private voice in addition to public school music, which she continued from the early 70’s until her move to Lawrence in 2016.

For over 35 years, Betty taught in the Wichita School District, primarily as an elementary school music teacher. During this time, she was also active as a church musician and director of choirs and handbells. She pursued additional studies to become a certified Director of Music in the United Methodist Church, and eventually was ordained as a Deacon. Following her retirement from USD259, Betty extended her career by instructing Music Appreciation at Butler Community College for 15 years, continuing teaching into her eighties.

Beyond music, Betty enjoyed gardening, reading, holiday decorating, KU basketball, and Chiefs football. She and her daughter, Kathleen, embarked on annual mother-daughter trips from 2001 through 2024. Betty was a people-person, striving to make connections not only with her students, but with others she encountered in her daily living. She enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends through phone calls, handwritten letters, emails, and texts, as well as personal visits.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, sister Laura Austin, and husband Joe Partridge. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Miller (Rod); grandsons Chad Miller (Suzanne) and Jared Miller (Jolee); great-grandchildren Kaden and Kaiah Miller, and niece Sheryl Allen (Larry). Betty Partridge died peacefully on the morning of her 93rd birthday, November 9, 2025, at The Piper Assisted Living Facility in Kansas City, Kansas.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2025 at Peabody United Methodist Church in Peabody, Kansas with The Reverend Nathan Gift presiding. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery Peabody, Kansas