Betty Jean (Kramer) Kracht, 91, of Centralia, passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Betty attended Franklin Grade School and graduated from Centralia Township High School in 1948. She worked with Illinois Bell and AT&T Companies for 38 years. She was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, Theodore N. Vail State Chapter No. 69. Betty volunteered at the Salvation Army and the Centralia Recycling Center. She also volunteered for the Centralia Chapter American Cross and in 1996 she received a Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service. She was awarded the Business and Professional Women’s “Woman of the Year” in 1999. Betty was a 74 year continuous member of the Centralia American Legion Auxiliary Unit 446. She was also a member of the Centralia 8 & 40. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Centralia and former member of Friendship Guild. She loved Christmas and enjoyed collecting anything Santa Claus. Betty was an avid bowler. She also loved going with her sister, Shirley, to see Fireworks and Christmas Lights. Betty cherished the time she spent with her family and friends. Having many friends, Betty believed “If you want to have friends, you have to be a friend.”
Funeral Services for Betty Kracht will be held Friday, January 14, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home with Pastor Miguel Torneire officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia. Visitation will be held Friday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Centralia American Legion Auxilliary Unit 446, Trinity Lutheran Church and/or the Donor’s Choice and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Kracht Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook Page.
Betty is survived by her two sons: Mike Kracht and wife Susan of Centralia and Gene Kracht and wife Lisa of Centralia; four grandchildren: Tiffany Cobb, Steve Marlow, Emily Haake and husband Ryan, Jessica Miller and husband Collin; five great-grandchildren: Kylie, Jacob, Aiden, Ryker and Elijah; her sister: Shirley Hall of Sandoval; and several nieces and nephews.
She was born July 4, 1930 in Salem at 7:20 p.m., the daughter of Paul Kramer, Sr. and Helen (Walker) Kramer. She married Willard Kracht in Mt. Vernon and he preceded her in death on March 16, 1988. She was preceded in death by her parents: Paul Kramer, Sr. and Helen Kramer, husband: Willard Kracht, two sisters in infancy, and four brothers: Gerald Kramer, Thomas Kramer, Paul Kramer and Louis Kramer.
