Betty Jo Ritzdorf

Betty Jo Ritzdorf, 81, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2012 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Betty was born on July 21, 1931 in Sterling, Kansas the daughter of Comet and Rhea Wood. She attended local schools in Wichita Kansas graduating in 1949. Betty went to college at the American Institute of Banking and graduated in 1981. Betty married Roland Wikel in 1950 and they had three children, they would later divorce. She met the love of her life Fred Ritzdorf and they were married in 1968. She lived and worked in Kansas until her retirement in 1997. After retirement she would move to California in 1998 to enjoy life and become a member of a local church there. In 2003, Betty moved to the Sandpoint area to be with her family. She became immediately involved in the Sandpoint Senior Center, which became her base for networking in the community and making new friends. Betty would help develop and run the senior companion program for the Sandpoint area. She was the Senior Companion Coordinator for Bonner County, bringing secure companionship to many dependent and lonely elderly people. Whether Betty lived in California or Idaho, Kansas was her home. She was a devoted fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, along with the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Betty will be greatly missed by everybody that called her G.G., and Betty Boop. Betty is survived by her daughter Pamela (Robert) Seaman, son Scott Wikel; three grandchildren Emily (Rolun) Lind, Joshua Wikel and Zach Wikel; nine great grandchildren: Matthew, Brennan, Nathaniel, Alex, Caitlin, Jeremey, Zane, Kayle and Nathaniel; and two Sisters Barbara Turner and Linda Bryant. She is preceded in death by her husband Fred, her parents Comet and Rhea her son Anthony Wikel and a sister Connie Bell.