January 14 2019: OWEN, Frances “LaRue” Bettien

Frances “LaRue” Bettien Owen

   July 18, 1919 – January 8, 2019

LaRue was born and raised in Napoleon, Missouri, the third daughter of Charlotte and Adolph Bettien. After completion of Lexington High School, LaRue graduated from Warrensburg Teachers College in 1940.  During WWII she taught high school in Kansas and Missouri.

In 1946 LaRue accepted a position with the Veterans Administration as an Educational Therapist, in medical rehabilitation. There she met her future husband Richard Owen who was wounded in Normandy.

Shortly after their marriage in 1951, LaRue transferred her membership from the Methodist Church to the Disciples of Christ when she was baptized at the Fairmont Christian Church.

Dick and LaRue settle in Kansas City, Missouri, later moving to Kokomo, Indiana and finally to Montgomery County, Maryland.

LaRue was active in the P.T.A, was a county assessor in Indiana, substitute teacher and finally retired from the Veterans Administration as an Educational Therapist in 1982.

From 1982 to 1985 she and Dick lived in Saudi Arabi and had the opportunity to take a trip around the world.

LaRue was very active in the 82nd Airbourne, 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment, C-47 and Maryland Purple Heart Organizations. She loved to travel especially to Normandy France. Besides traveling, LaRue had a passion for college basketball which began with her coaching of basketball at Amoret High School in Missouri.

LaRue loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them, especially the annual “Nags Head Vacation” which was a tradition for over 20 years.

She was the loving wife of the late Richard B. Owen and is survived by her three sons Bradley (Mary Kay), Joel (Debbie) and Todd (Bob), along with six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, Md. 20901, Saturday, January 19, from 3-5 p.m.  A memorial service will be held at Aspen Hill Christian Church, 13501 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20906, Sunday, January 20, at 3 p.m. Interment at Arlington Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Aspen Hill Christian Church, 13501 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 20906, or Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Dr., Suite 100, Rockville, Md.  20850.

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