Elizabeth (Betty) Borengasser, 101, of Tulsa, a cherished mother and grandmother and longtime resident of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed from this life surrounded by her family on December 7, 2018, in Tulsa. She was born in Fort Smith on May 12, 1917. Her parents were Elijah “Mac” and Jane Williams McCulloch.
Betty attended Fort Smith schools and following high school, earned a license in stenography from Draughon’s Business College. She served as the court reporter for Prosecuting Attorney Paul Wolfe. It was during this time she met the love of her life and future husband, the late Sigmund Borengasser. Betty and “Sig” were married on December 17, 1942 in New York, shortly before he was deployed by the U.S. Army to the Phillipines during World War II. Together, Betty and Sigmund had eight children, with one daughter, Theresa, passing not long after birth. They also operated one of Fort Smith’s most well-known businesses, Borengasser’s Color Clinic.
Betty lived for the past 18 years in Richardson, Texas, and then in Tulsa, with her oldest daughter, Ann. Betty was a friendly, outgoing person who enjoyed making new friends wherever she was and doting on her children and grandchildren, who simply adored her. She was a devoted Catholic, and a longtime member of Christ the King parish in Fort Smith. She enjoyed cooking, traveling, and playing “ragtime” piano tunes.
Betty is survived by her children, Ann Borengasser of Tulsa, Sigmund Borengasser, Jr. of Fort Smith, Janie Hentschel and Claire Borengasser, both of Fort Smith, Colleen Baker and her husband, Robert, of Houston, Texas, Brenda Zodrow and her husband, David, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Sarah Vestrat and her husband, Glenn, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; sixteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
The Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2018, at Christ the King Catholic Church, with burial following at Calvary Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2018, in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, followed at 6:00 p.m. by the Rosary. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
To sign and online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com