Betty Lawson Jansons

The world dimmed softly in the early morning hours of November 22, 2025, as Betty Jo Jansons, age 91, slipped from this earth with the same grace, humor, and quiet sparkle that carried her through every chapter of her remarkable life. Born on January 10, 1934, in Salado, Texas to Leola Katherine Lawson (Wood) and J.B. Lawson. As the eldest of 4, Betty grew from a small-town girl with big dreams into a globe-trotter, a trailblazer of her time, a wife, a friend, and the soft-spoken legend our family still can’t stop talking about.

Armed with an education from business school and a work ethic sturdier than a Fort Hood tank, Betty began a lifelong career of keeping the world running—literally. She worked a variety of administrative jobs before landing in the buzzing, high-tech (well… high-tech for the 60s) world of teletype operations for Delta Airlines. There she spent over a decade typing out transmissions that kept planes moving across continents. If a pilot ever landed where he was supposed to, Betty probably had something to do with it.

After her aviation era, she served in a civil service career at Fort Sam Houston, ensuring the military had what it needed—with a level of organization the Pentagon could only dream of. 

But her greatest assignment came in 1969, when she went on what was supposed to be a simple vacation with a girlfriend to Sydney, Australia—and instead met the charming Latvian gentleman who would become the love of her life, Janis Jansons. They married on January 14, 1971, in Austin, Texas, beginning a union filled with devotion, laughter, shared adventures, and a mutual understanding that Betty was always right.

Betty leaves behind a legacy of dignity, warmth, humor, and a fierce independence disguised beneath a soft voice and a gentle smile. She lived quietly—but she loved loudly. She was wise, caring, steady, unshakeable, and occasionally sassy when it was needed it most.

She will be remembered every time we hear the click-clack of a keyboard, pass an airplane overhead, or witness a love story that begins in the most unlikely of places—like the other side of the world.

Her life was proof that magic is real, that love can find you anywhere, and that the quietest people often make the biggest impact.

Preceded in death by her mother, Leola K Lawson, father, JB Lawson; younger brother Bill Lawson; bonus daughter Miranda Cloud and many beloved pets throughout the years. 

Survived by her husband, Janis Jansons; bonus children, Dianna Jansons; AnnMarie Giese (Steve); David Jansons (Rebecca); younger brother, Loyd Lawson; “baby” sister, Rhonda Jarosek (David); sisters-in-love, Daina Mahar and Mara Urschel (Ronnie); many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended relatives and friends that love her very much. She also leaves behind one especially close niece, her “Tiffy” (Tiffany Marek) – as it was mentioned that if she wasn’t included by name, we’d face gentle but persistent supernatural consequences.

A visitation for Betty will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Belton. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on December 3, 2025 at Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Belton with Chaplain H.K Ballard officiating followed by her burial at North Belton Cemetery in Belton. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Crotty FUneral Home & Cremation Services of Belton.