Bettye Jane Street

Bettye Jane Street (Tollman) was born January 27, 1927 to Thelma and Stanley Tollman
in St Louis, Missouri. She had one brother, Nelson, who preceded her in death. Robert
Collignon Street, Bettye’s loving husband of nearly 70 years also preceded her in death in
2014. Bettye is survived by four of her children, David Paul Street (Karen), James Peter
Street (Stacey), Susan Lynn Street (John Peters), and Ann Mary Komatz (Stephen). Her
son, Michael Robert Street preceded her in death.
Bettye has eight grandchildren: Sara Myers (Josh), Michael Street (Sara Whipple), Paul
Komatz, (Stephanie Marragos), Cosmo Peters, Nikolai Peters (Emily Stellick), Joseph
Komatz, Grace Komatz, and Enzo Peters. She has four great-grandchildren: Charles
Myers, John Myers, Georgia Myers, and Izabella Komatz.
Bettye graduated from Cleveland High School in St Louis. She also attended Washington
University with the help from a scholarship. As a youth she was very active in Job’s
Daughters, a Masonic sponsored youth leadership organization. She was always
thoughtful and conscientious about how her actions affected others. Bettye was a very
loving and generous person.
Bettye was a devoted wife and busy homemaker with three boys to raise before she later
had two daughters. Much of her attention was freely given to her second son, Michael,
who had Down syndrome. Even though Bettye and Bob were advised against it, they
raised and cared for Michael at home, right along with the rest of their children his entire
life. Together they set a standard of care for a disabled child that was unheard of at the
time.
Never one to sit idle, Bettye developed many skills, some of necessity and some strictly
for pleasure. Sewing, knitting, and crocheting skills were first developed out of necessity.
As a young mother in the late 40’s it was necessary for her and Bob to stretch the dollars
as far as possible. In her later years Bettye became well known for the hundreds of sets of
hats and booties she knitted for premature babies.
Eventually she found some leisure time and put her love of the beauty of roses to use in
her garden. To Bettye there was nothing to compare to a rose bush from Jackson Perkins.
She also took up tole painting, was an avid reader and writer, as well as a collector of
antiques, calendar plates, dolls, cut glass, and who knows what else we haven’t found
yet?
Throughout life Bettye never lost the joy of traveling. Whether it was a Thanksgiving trip
to Glenwood Springs or a tour of Europe, Bettye and Bob cherished the time spent 
traveling together and with their friends. Bettye was able to celebrate being 90 years old
both of the last two times she was in Mexico even though one was a bit premature.
Bettye left us Saturday morning February 3, 2018 at the age of 91. She died at home
surrounded by her extended family. She will be missed terribly.

A memorial service is being planned for summertime. The date will be announced once
determined.

We (I) lost a friend today.
She was a beautiful woman
in appearance, spirit, and soul.
She showed courage and strength
in her sorrows and health
and was always there for the children,
loved ones,
and strangers.
She was a caring Christian
and enjoyed life in her giving.
We shall miss Bettye Jane (Ruth).
We lost a friend today.
What more can I say.
        -Bettye J