Elizabeth "Beth" Dennis

GODDARD, KANSAS - Elizabeth Dennis, 85, retired grocery store co-owner, passed away Monday, December 23, 2019. Visitation, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 26, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West. Funeral Service, 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 27, at Goddard United Methodist Church. Preceded in death by parents, Barney and Elsie Akers; brother, Jimmy Lee Akers and sister, Joy Sikes. Survivors: husband, Jim; daughters, Cindy (Susan) Dennis of Wichita, Debbie (Stan) Rinehart of Sublette, Diane (Mac) Dennis of Wichita; son, Kenneth (Janet) Dennis of Dighton; brother, Barney (Dixie) Akers of Kendall; sisters, Martha Pfannenstiel of Dodge City, Anita (Jim) Williamson of Garden City; grandchildren, Lisa (Nick) Rouse, Janae (Tyler) Biernacki, Kristi Rinehart, Maggie (Cory) Webber, Jamie (Mitchell) Rinehart Gaede, Breann Dennis; 2 great-granddaughters; 3 great-grandsons. Memorials established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202 and Goddard United Methodist Church, 300 N. Cedar, Goddard, KS 67052. Elizabeth Jo ”Beth” (Akers) Dennis, was born March 18,1934, in Woodford, Oklahoma, to proud parents, Barney Mack, Sr. and Elsie Edna (Griffin) Akers. She was greeted by her big sister, Melva Joy, and big brother, Barney Mack, Jr. The family continued to grow with the addition of Jimmy Lee, Martha Lou and Anita June. In 1948 the family moved to Kansas. Beth attended school in Kendall, graduating in 1952. In school she met and dated Jim Dennis who she would marry in 1953, and they raised four children together. Elizabeth (or Beth as she was called by Jims family) was a remarkable woman. She was one of six children. She was number three in birth order, but she was the oldest daughter who moved to Kansas. Her older sister, Joy, married and stayed in Oklahoma when the family moved. Beth helped with her younger sisters so her mom Elsie could be at work. Beth helped them get ready for school which included hair brushing and ponytails. There are family stories that the younger sisters, Martha and Anita, learned to sit still or else the brush might land harder than expected on their heads. Beth was raised by two hard working parents that taught her a strong work ethic by example. This strong work ethic was seen throughout Beth’s life: helping her parents while at home, raising her own family, helping run the family business, helping to care for her parents in their older years, spoiling the six granddaughters and now the five great-grandchildren. Beth loved her family and friends. She loved to cook for her family and host family holidays and gatherings in their home. The more the merrier. Through the years Beth adopted many extra kids. It was fun to see people’s reactions when Beth answered the frequent question, how many kids do you have? “Too many to count” was a frequent answer, and that number has continued to grow.