Betty "Bets" Kammerer

Betty Louise "Bets" Kammerer, age 81, of Kendallville, passed away April 27, 2026, at Parkview Dekalb Hospital in Auburn. Betty was born in Garrett, Indiana, on February 28, 1945, to the late Frank Lee Beckwith, Jr. and Della Marie (Smith) McClellan.

She graduated from Kendallville High School in 1964 and that same year married Jack Norman Kammerer on October 30, 1964, at St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville. Jack preceded her in death April 4, 2000, and Bets carried his memory with her for the rest of her life.

Bets spent many years serving others through her work. She was a waitress and greeter for many years at Shook’s Lounge and Restaurant in Kendallville, where her friendly nature and welcoming spirit left a lasting impression on customers and coworkers alike. In her younger days, she waited tables at the Palace of Sweets on Main Street in Kendallville and at Blaising’s Tavern in Rome City. She took pride in her work and in the connections she made with the people she met along the way. Her kindness, warm smile, and genuine personality made her someone others were glad to see.

Those who knew Bets will remember her as a friendly and loving woman who cared deeply for her family. She especially loved spending time with her grandkids and family, and those moments brought her great joy. She also enjoyed working outside in her yard, where she found satisfaction in caring for her home and surroundings. Bets had a lifelong love for Elvis and was a big fan, enjoying his music and the happiness it brought her over the years.

Bets lived a life marked by simple joys, steady devotion, and a heart that was open to others. She was the kind of person who made people feel welcome, and her presence brought comfort and warmth to those around her. Her family and friends will remember her not only for the years she lived, but for the love she gave, the laughter she shared, and the many everyday ways she made life brighter. Though she will be deeply missed, the example of her loving nature and her gentle spirit will remain a lasting source of comfort and remembrance.

Survivors include:
Daughter, Melinda and Denis Oster of Waterloo.
Daughter, Dawn and Troy Sutton of Kendallville.
Daughter, Monica Kammerer and Jim Wicker of Walling, Tennessee.
Grandchildren: Amber (Troy) Chappell of Auburn; Amanda (Reiley) Pugh of Butler; Andrea (Robert) Riley of Ashley; Sosha Chantel Kammerer (Casey Cantwell) of Avilla; Gary Lee Curtis Heiman of Avilla; Destynie Bellinger (T.J. Mynhier) of Kendallville; Nathan Yoder of Fort Wayne; Tristan Kammerer of Kendallville; and Grace Denison (Zach Lane) of Avilla. Many great grandchildren. 
Sister, Carol Ruth Long of Panama Beach, Florida.
Bets was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Beckwith and Della McClellan; her husband, Jack Kammerer; son, David Kammerer, on November 27, 2016; infant son, Mark Alan Kammerer in 1970; two sisters, Dorothy Herendeen and Beverly Potter; and one brother, Frank Beckwith, III. 

Visitation and funeral services will take place Friday, May 1, 2026, at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville. Visitation will begin at 2:00PM followed by a funeral service at 6:00PM. Pastor Michael Antal will officiate the service. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Zion Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to her family. 
 

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