Obituary for Betsy Ann Raj (Hogue)
On the 14th of January 2022, in Floresville, TX, at the age of 82, Betsy Ann Raj went home to be with the Lord. Betsy Ann or “Whinny” as she was known as a childhood nickname, was born on June 23rd, 1939, in Scottsville, Kentucky. Her parents were James Orville and Aliene Hogue. Betsy Ann was one of seven siblings who grew up on a farm raising tobacco. She loved to tell stories about picking tobacco and hanging tobacco in the barn. She loved to tell stories about all of the childhood games that they would play on the farm.
Along the way Betsy came across the story of Florence Nightingale. Inspired by Florence Nightingale she left the farm in pursuit of her dream to become a nurse. She achieved her dream of becoming a nurse and had a very long fulfilling career in nursing spanning over 50 years. Betsy pursued nursing in many different facets including working in nursing homes, hospitals, military hospitals, university hospitals and probably her most adventurous setting was working in the prison system. She would love to tell the story of how a prisoner tried to escape from the infirmary and how she tackled him and gave him a scolding for trying to escape on her watch. Becoming a nurse, was one of Betsy’s most proudest achievements. She loved the career, she loved the uniform, and most of all she loved the chance to help people.
While working as a nurse at KU Medical Center she met her husband, Hans. One of her favorite stories is about their first date. He was so nervous that he literally ran every red light. Betsy would talk about how she was just hoping to survive the date. Despite Hans’ driving skills they ended up getting married on the 4th of November 1972. This year, November 4, 2022, they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Betsy always said that she wanted two children, two boys to be precise. She tells how she prayed for two boys and God granted her prayer by giving her two sons, Jimmi and Vijay. Betsy was not shy saying that the greatest accomplishment she could ever have, was her two sons. She was proud of the men they had become. She was never shy to talk about “her boys.”
Betsy took a brief pause from nursing to support Hans’ career in the ministry. One of her favorite ministries was youth ministry. She loved helping and supporting young people in their pursuit of faith. Betsy was also involved in children’s activities at school, always willing to lend a helping hand as a room mother, bringing snacks to the players or just being a voice of unwavering support.
But there was more to Betsy than just her boys, nursing, and her faith. She was an adamant sports fan, especially football. At times the order might be God, family, and then the Dallas Cowboys. But of course, she loved her San Antonio Spurs as well. Betsy also loved music which included Hank Williams Sr., Elvis Presley, and the Gaither’s (just ask Vijay). Betsy also had other talents including playing music. She loved to sing, play the piano, the organ and what a lot of people do not know she was an accomplished accordion player. She also collected dolls. Yes, lots and lots of dolls. Best estimate was at least 300 dolls. But above all she had a passion for art.
Betsy had a lifelong pursuit for education. After retiring from a very successful career in nursing she pursued her passion for art and began working on her art history degree. She worked with various artists learning different mediums and traveled across the state of Texas to different art shows, fairs etc. She was very proud of her after nursing accomplishments and was forever young at heart and passion.
As mentioned before, Betsy prayed for two boys. But little did she know that life would bring her a daughter in Sarah, Vijay’s wife. There is not one significant moment in our lives in which Sarah was not present, therefore “in-law” never applied. Sarah is a wife, daughter, sister, and most important a mother. Kennedy James was born and officially made Betsy a grandmother and oh how Betsy loved being a grandmother. Better late than never, Jimmi married Kate and introduced four other grandchildren, Oscar, Abe, Nora, and Atticus.
Betsy took to life as if it was an adventure, as if it was her mission to succeed. She left a tobacco farm and took on the world. World traveled; she never met a stranger. Always willing to lend a helping hand or whatever was needed. Never fearful and always bold. Her faith was strong and evident. Her whit, humor and smile lifted the room. From nursing, being a wife, a friend, a grandmother and a mother, Betsy lived each to the fullest potential. Betsy was a three-time cancer survivor and each time never thought about the “end.” Her faith was always strong. Betsy leaves behind a huge void but also an inspiration in all of us to fulfill a passion for life, a faith unwavering. To anyone who knew Betsy she will truly be missed…but most by her husband, daughter, grandchildren and especially “her boys.” Paint the sky mom….
Betsy Ann Raj is preceded in death by her parents; by her siblings, James Ruben Hogue, Elizabeth Fay Kingery, Josephine Shockley, and Wanda Peavley; as well as other family members. She is survived by her husband, Hans; her grandchildren, Kennedy James, Oscar, Abe, Nora, and Atticus; her daughter (in-law) Sarah and Kate; her siblings, Willowdean Fonner, Betty Buss, and Peggy Fuller; and lastly her proudest accomplishment “her boys”, Jimmi and Vijay.
A visitation will be held Saturday, January 22, 2022, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Finch Funeral Chapel in Stockdale. Funeral service will follow at 10:00 am also at Finch Funeral Chapel. Interment will be at the Stockdale Cemetery.
Funeral Services are entrusted with Finch Funeral Chapel, Stockdale. 830 996-3811
Please sign the online guestbook at finchfuneralchapels.com
Along the way Betsy came across the story of Florence Nightingale. Inspired by Florence Nightingale she left the farm in pursuit of her dream to become a nurse. She achieved her dream of becoming a nurse and had a very long fulfilling career in nursing spanning over 50 years. Betsy pursued nursing in many different facets including working in nursing homes, hospitals, military hospitals, university hospitals and probably her most adventurous setting was working in the prison system. She would love to tell the story of how a prisoner tried to escape from the infirmary and how she tackled him and gave him a scolding for trying to escape on her watch. Becoming a nurse, was one of Betsy’s most proudest achievements. She loved the career, she loved the uniform, and most of all she loved the chance to help people.
While working as a nurse at KU Medical Center she met her husband, Hans. One of her favorite stories is about their first date. He was so nervous that he literally ran every red light. Betsy would talk about how she was just hoping to survive the date. Despite Hans’ driving skills they ended up getting married on the 4th of November 1972. This year, November 4, 2022, they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Betsy always said that she wanted two children, two boys to be precise. She tells how she prayed for two boys and God granted her prayer by giving her two sons, Jimmi and Vijay. Betsy was not shy saying that the greatest accomplishment she could ever have, was her two sons. She was proud of the men they had become. She was never shy to talk about “her boys.”
Betsy took a brief pause from nursing to support Hans’ career in the ministry. One of her favorite ministries was youth ministry. She loved helping and supporting young people in their pursuit of faith. Betsy was also involved in children’s activities at school, always willing to lend a helping hand as a room mother, bringing snacks to the players or just being a voice of unwavering support.
But there was more to Betsy than just her boys, nursing, and her faith. She was an adamant sports fan, especially football. At times the order might be God, family, and then the Dallas Cowboys. But of course, she loved her San Antonio Spurs as well. Betsy also loved music which included Hank Williams Sr., Elvis Presley, and the Gaither’s (just ask Vijay). Betsy also had other talents including playing music. She loved to sing, play the piano, the organ and what a lot of people do not know she was an accomplished accordion player. She also collected dolls. Yes, lots and lots of dolls. Best estimate was at least 300 dolls. But above all she had a passion for art.
Betsy had a lifelong pursuit for education. After retiring from a very successful career in nursing she pursued her passion for art and began working on her art history degree. She worked with various artists learning different mediums and traveled across the state of Texas to different art shows, fairs etc. She was very proud of her after nursing accomplishments and was forever young at heart and passion.
As mentioned before, Betsy prayed for two boys. But little did she know that life would bring her a daughter in Sarah, Vijay’s wife. There is not one significant moment in our lives in which Sarah was not present, therefore “in-law” never applied. Sarah is a wife, daughter, sister, and most important a mother. Kennedy James was born and officially made Betsy a grandmother and oh how Betsy loved being a grandmother. Better late than never, Jimmi married Kate and introduced four other grandchildren, Oscar, Abe, Nora, and Atticus.
Betsy took to life as if it was an adventure, as if it was her mission to succeed. She left a tobacco farm and took on the world. World traveled; she never met a stranger. Always willing to lend a helping hand or whatever was needed. Never fearful and always bold. Her faith was strong and evident. Her whit, humor and smile lifted the room. From nursing, being a wife, a friend, a grandmother and a mother, Betsy lived each to the fullest potential. Betsy was a three-time cancer survivor and each time never thought about the “end.” Her faith was always strong. Betsy leaves behind a huge void but also an inspiration in all of us to fulfill a passion for life, a faith unwavering. To anyone who knew Betsy she will truly be missed…but most by her husband, daughter, grandchildren and especially “her boys.” Paint the sky mom….
Betsy Ann Raj is preceded in death by her parents; by her siblings, James Ruben Hogue, Elizabeth Fay Kingery, Josephine Shockley, and Wanda Peavley; as well as other family members. She is survived by her husband, Hans; her grandchildren, Kennedy James, Oscar, Abe, Nora, and Atticus; her daughter (in-law) Sarah and Kate; her siblings, Willowdean Fonner, Betty Buss, and Peggy Fuller; and lastly her proudest accomplishment “her boys”, Jimmi and Vijay.
A visitation will be held Saturday, January 22, 2022, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Finch Funeral Chapel in Stockdale. Funeral service will follow at 10:00 am also at Finch Funeral Chapel. Interment will be at the Stockdale Cemetery.
Funeral Services are entrusted with Finch Funeral Chapel, Stockdale. 830 996-3811
Please sign the online guestbook at finchfuneralchapels.com