Betty Louise Harper

Betty Louise Harper, 91, of LaGrange, Kentucky, entered her eternal rest with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, December 25, 2023.

She was born on February 11, 1932 in Louisville, Kentucky to the late Edward and Evelyn (Leonhardt) Stettenbenz. She spent the majority of her life in Jeffersonville, Indiana and Henryville, Indiana. Betty graduated from Henryville High School in 1950 as a married woman! She had married Kenneth Waggoner in 1949. They had three children, the late Steven Waggoner, Susan Foster, and Mark Waggoner. They were married until Kenneth's passing in 1993. Betty then married Art Harper in 2000 and they remained married until his passing in 2012.

Betty and her siblings spent 4 years at the St. Joseph's Orphanage due to her mother having a heart ailment that made it difficult to care for the children. When they returned home, they lived in Henryville, Indiana on a farm. Betty had a favorite horse growing up named Dolly. She spoke of how she was the only one Dolly would let ride her with a saddle!

As a young married couple, Betty and Kenneth would go dancing at the Optimist's Club and the Shriner's Club. They also belonged to a square dance club where they danced for many years. They were very active and loved game night and playing cards with their friends, Bonnie and John Schalk.

Betty worked at the Army Ammunition Plant in Jeffersonville from the late 1960's to the mid 1970's. She also worked at Methodist and Norton Healthcare in the cash audit department until her retirement in 1997.

She worked on the presidential campaign for Robert Kennedy in 1968 and got the opportunity to shake his hand when he came to Jeffersonville!

Betty was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Jeffersonville and later joined Southeast Christian Church in Louisville where she was baptized.

She is preceded in death by her late husbands, Kenneth Waggoner and Art Harper; her oldest son, Steven Waggoner; and her brothers, Donald and Robert Stettenbenz.

Betty is survived by her sisters, Sherry Crabtree and Joyce Stettenbenz; her daughter, Susan Foster; her daughter-in-law, Toni Waggoner; and her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Laura Waggoner; as well as 6 grandchildren, Tiffany Niemann, Wendy (Matt) Mullins, Tasha Waggoner, Calera Waggoner, Camden Waggoner, and Catherine Waggoner; 8 great-grandchildren, Abigail (Patrick) Brown, Madilyn (Eli) Jones, Deryk (Macy) Kennedy, McKyna Mullins, Keygan Mullins, Trent Waggoner, Katelynn (Austin) Richmer, and Brendan Glidwell; and 7 great-great-grandchildren, Colton Jones, Magnolia Jones, Walker Jones, Jameson Kennedy, Solomon Kennedy, Kendra Waggoner, and Olivia Waggoner.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany, Indiana). Her Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday, at the funeral home with burial to follow at Kraft-Graceland Memorial Park.

Please consider sharing a memory of Betty or leaving a special message for her family by completing the "Share Memories" section below.