Betty Ilene Overton

A huge pillar in many lives was able to join another huge pillar on September 15th, 2026.

Betty Ilene Overton (Barker) passed away on this day, and the world will never be the same. A great friend, Aunt, Mother, Mother In-law, Grandma, Great Grandma, and Great-Great Grandma to more than timing allows us to count. 

Betty Barker was born on January 11th, 1933 in Peru, Iowa during the Great Depression. Grandpa Barker (Gail Barker) and Grandma Barker (Pauline Barker) sure knew what they were doing in her raising.

Betty had to move around quiet often in her childhood days as Grandpa Barker (Gail) had to go to where the work was. With four sisters and four brothers, this was a challenge that Betty would learn to overcome.

Betty started her work life detasseling corn, hearing things like "Barker... I'm coming... So is Christmas" ... A few other jobs in between before beginning a very successful career at Samsonite and finishing with Hewlett Packard until retirement. Her grandchildren loved that time being able to ice skate on the rink in Colorado Springs on occasion which had a private rink for HP employees and their family. 

As time moved on, she was blessed to meet a young man by the name of Verdi Overton. This introduction started the most loving family that one could ever wish for. Her first kiss and only kiss. They married on October 23rd, 1948 and this was the start of a legacy that other dream of. 

Verdi and Betty built a home on "The Mountain" was a staple and the happiest place on Earth for her local and extended family across the country, as everyone was always welcome. Grandkids no longer needed a private rink in Colorado Springs as the lake down the mountain would freeze over just as good and "private" didn't mean anything at the time. 

From learning how to fish, to driving a 5-speed stick on mountain roads, Betty was your guide. She would sing a song along with the radio, "Wolverton Mountain" heading back home from fishing all day. Thought it was magic that she and the radio were singing a song together about heading back to Overton Mountain, the happiest place on Earth for so many. Swear I thought that song was about Overton Mountain.