Lowell K. Betts, 93, of Oblong, Il went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the early morning on Monday, August 31, 2026, in Oblong, IL.
He was born in Blanchard, MI on August 12, 1933, to Robert Edward and Emma (Miller) Betts. On June 2, 1953, Lowell married his college sweetheart, Rozella May Lukens. Rozella preceded him in death after 64 years of marriage on January 16, 2018.
Lowell attended Spring Arbor College in Michigan for 3 years and sang in the quartet before finishing his graduate work with a B.A. in pastoral studies at Greenville College in Illinois. Lowell was an ordained elder and pastor for 41 years, serving churches in the Free Methodist Church, United Holiness Church, and finally retiring while with the Bible Missionary Church. He taught classes for a couple of years at Wesleyan Bible Institute, which later became Jordan College. His ministry covered the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois.
Lowell lived by the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would like them to do for you.” He was known for his honesty and his promise to finish or fix a job. He always instructed his children “that if anything was worth doing, it was worth doing right.”
Anyone who knew Lowell saw that he loved and served the Lord to the best of his ability. It was evident that God was first in his life and then family was second. Lowell was a faithful soldier of the Cross preaching the Work of God and living an exemplary Christian life. Even at the end of his life, he had a smile on his face or a kind word to those who cared for his needs.
Lowell is survived by his four children, Glen (Gracie) Betts of Sheridan, IN, David Betts of Berea, OH, Marlin (Debbie) Betts of Brazil, IN and Marilyn (David) Sheridan of Oblong, 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Raymond (Peggy) Betts of Fremont, MI and sister-in-law, Joanne (Tim) Perry of Holton, MI.
Proceeding Lowell in death were his parents, his wife, one brother, Douglas Betts and a son-in-law, Leonard Waller, Jr.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Brookstone Assisted Living facility in Robinson, IL, Haven of Ridgeview nursing facility in Oblong, IL, and Tammy, RN with Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospice for their care during the last year of Lowell’s life. Special thanks also to the congregation of the St. Marie Pilgrim Holiness Church for all their loving attention and support during his 8 years of widowhood.
Celebration of Lowell’s life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 7, 2026, at Pulliam Funeral Home, 302 E. Main St., Oblong, IL 62449 with Rev. Danny Jewell officiating. Burial
will be in the Oblong Cemetery, Oblong, IL. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 7, 2026, at the funeral home.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, an expression of sympathy may take the form of a contribution to the Bible Missionary Church, Inc. (for Foreign Missions) or Crossroads Biker’s Church (for food supplies to feed the homeless due to the recent flood in Indiana). Envelopes will be available at or mailed to: Pulliam Funeral Home, 320 E. Main St., P.O. Box 121, Oblong, IL 62449.
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