Betty Lou Barger Nioce, 81, of Horton, Kansas, passed peacefully surrounded by her family at Mission Village Living Center in Horton, Kansas, on March 11, 2022.

Betty was born on June 15, 1940 in Humphrey, Arkansas, to Roy and Mary (Vanderblomen) Barger. She was the only daughter of four children. Betty and her family moved to Hoyt, Kansas, in 1955. She graduated from Hoyt High School in 1958. In 1959, Betty married Charles L Nioce Sr. (deceased in 1991) and later divorced in 1972.

Being the amazing mother that she was, Betty signed up for classes at Clarkson Business School to further her education to provide a brighter future for her children. During that time, Betty and her children lived with Betty’s parents in Topeka. She later worked at Jostens School Yearbooks as a Stripper, where she worked with pictures. This specific job led to many laughs and teasable moments over the years from her family as they reminisced on her past occupations. After leaving Jostens, she took a job with Mayetta Elementary School as a teacher’s assistant. At this time, Betty and her children moved out of her parents and on their own. She was the original, single mother powerhouse. After completing Clarkson Business School, Betty took a job with the Federal Crop Insurance Agency working with local farmers in Horton, KS. She worked there for several years. She later took a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the realty department and filled in as the assistant superintendent. She retired from the BIA in 2007 with more than 30 years of dedicated service, to care for her companion, Gale Ingwerson (passed 5/22/2007). After his passing and needing to fill her time, she started a new career with the Kickapoo Health Center. She stayed at this position for a few years and then decided to become a full-time grandma and great-grandma.

Betty was a stranger to no one. You could travel for miles around Horton and people would stop and ask family members about “Grandma Betty”. In addition to being an amazing cook, she was most known for her love for baking sweets and pies. When she wasn’t cooking, you could find her at the casino, having breakfast with her group of friends, playing card games, going on car rides, and spending time with her family.

Preceding her in death is her infant daughter, Donna Lynn Nioce; her parents, brothers, James LeRoy Barger (Topeka KS), Robert Richard Barger (Kentucky) and Billy Wayne Barger (Topeka, KS).

Betty is survived by her daughters: Janet (Sam) Nazario (Phoenix, AZ), Christi (Darrel) Ingels (Mayetta, KS), and son, Chuck Nioce (Horton, KS). She has several grandchildren; Matt, Amy, and Tony Nazario (Phoenix, AZ), Ramzey, Kiona, Keena and Amos Ingels (Alycia Noriega) (Mayetta, KS), Brandi (Cody) Palmer (Seneca, KS, Chavis (Ciara) Nioce (Horton, KS), Shayli Nioce (Steve Earp), (Overland Park, KS), Clarissa (Bobby) Ross (Everest, KS), and Jaedy (Chandler) Robidoux (Kansas City, MO). Several great grandchildren: Eliana Nazario, Maddox Earp, Kai and Dax Nioce, Noah, Brogan and Owen Palmer, Nova Ingels, Zoey & Mia Ingels, and Alex and Vada Ross.

The family will greet friends on Monday, March 14, 2022 from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas.

A rosary will be recited at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 with the funeral mass following at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Horton, Kansas. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Hoyt, Kansas. Memorials may be made to the Betty Nioce memorial fund to be designated later and may be sent in care of the mortuary.  A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com