Betty Ballentine

Betty Jane (Ryder) Ballentine, 93, of Jackson, Missouri passed away at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2020 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She lived in the Venice and Granite City, Illinois area since 1952 and moved to Jackson, Missouri to live with her daughter in 2013.  She was born in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts on Aug. 18, 1927, a daughter of the late Ralph Dunham and Elsie Jane (Rae) Ryder.  While living in West Bridgewater she was a member of the Unitarian Church, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir.  She and her sister, Shirley, sang on radio station WHDH in Boston and radio station WBET in Brockton, Massachusetts.  She married Jacob P. Ballentine on June 6, 1952 in the Unitarian church in West Bridgewater then moved to Venice, Illinois.  He preceded her in death on January 18, 2002.  She worked for the Venice School System as a Library Clerical Aide for fifteen years.  She and her husband retired in 1987 and moved to Granite City.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Madison, Illinois.  She sang in the choir and became the choir director for almost seventeen years.  She also played the organ occasionally for the church and was a member of the Metro East Organ Society for many years.  She is survived by three children, Frederick Ballentine, of Hinesville, Georgia, Sharon (Eugene) Newcomer of Jackson, Missouri and Jack (Julie) Ballentine from Thaxton, Mississippi; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends.  In addition to her beloved husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Muriel Ryder, Mary Carr and Shirley Miner and two brothers, George Ryder and Raymond Ryder.  In celebration of her life, visitation will be at Irwin Chapel, 591 Glen Crossing Road in Glen Carbon on Friday, October 23, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until time of funeral service at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Mark Maynard officiating.  Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon.  Memorials may be made to New McKendree United Methodist Church, 225 South High Street, Jackson, Missouri 63755 and may be accepted at the funeral home.  www.irwinchapel.com