BELMONT - Betty Ruth (Okeson) Fanton, age 93, of Belmont, N.Y., passed away Friday (Feb. 10, 2017) at the Highland Nursing Home in Wellsville, N.Y. She was born in East Delevan, Wis., on Dec. 22, 1923, to Daniel and Lilla (Dade) Okeson.
On Jan 5, 1941, in Hartford, Mich. she married Russell Herrington Fanton of Wellsville, N.Y., in a double wedding with her sister Dorothy (Dot) and Russell's brother, Burrell Fanton.
Betty was predeceased by Russell, her husband of 69 years; daughter, Lillian Scholl Kray; and older sisters, Belva (Edwin) Peterson of Lawrence, Mich. and Dorothy (Burrell) Fanton of Wellsville, N.Y.
She is survived by her sons, Gene (Sandy Fuller) Fanton of Belmont, N.Y., Roger (Mary Jane Bancroft) Fanton of Pavilion, N.Y., and Ronald (Kay Gaus) Fanton of Belmont, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren, Priscilla (Nathan) Haines of Belmont, N.Y., Erik Scholl of Fayetteville, Pa., Kirsten (Sean) Dougherty of Branson, Mo., Pamela Fanton of Belmont, N.Y., Crystal (Chad) Sackett of Livonia, N.Y., Matthew (Melissa) Fanton of Springville, N.Y., Colleen Fanton of Mt. Morris, N.Y., Andrew Fanton of Hamburg, N.Y., Russell (Stacey) Fanton of Arcade, N,Y., Mark Fanton of Getzville, N.Y., Sarah Fanton of Pavilion, N.Y., Sandra Fanton of Pavilion, N.Y.; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Betty loved music and at a young age, with the help of her father, learned to play the piano, guitar and accordion. She also enjoyed being with her father outside, helping with chores and being a "Tom Boy."
With her sister Dot they began singing and playing music as the Prairie Yolders and would play at local square dances and other events. During the late '40s, they sang and played on a weekly radio show on a Rochester, N.Y., station.
Betty loved being a homemaker and raising her four children on an active dairy farm and loving animals, cared for many pets over the years.
She was a member of the Belmont Grange, the United Methodist Church of Belmont, a 4H leader for several years, something she enjoyed very much. In later years she painted, did crossword and word search puzzles and put puzzles together.
Betty wanted to thank friends, family and the staff at Highland who gave her love and attention over the years. In her memory, gifts may be made to the United Methodist Church in Belmont and the SPCA of Allegany County.
Friends may call at the Mulholland-Crowell Funeral Home in Wellsville on Wednesday (Feb. 15, 2017) from 2 to 4 p.m., when funeral and committal services will be held with the Rev. Tim Gleason of the Belmont United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Stannards Cemetery, Town of Willing, N.Y.
