Edwin Michael "Mike" Betts

June 6, 1950 - November 3, 2016

Edwin Michael “Mike” Betts, age 66, of Bowling Green, passed away Thursday, November 3, 2016 at his residence, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, November 7, 2016 at the Bibb-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green with Rev. Jerry Gamm officiating. Burial will be held in the Fairview Grassy Creek Cemetery in Louisiana with military honors being conducted by the Missouri Military Honors Guard and VFW Post# 5553. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Sunday at the funeral home. Mike was born June 6, 1950 in Louisiana, the son of Richard Wayne and Dorothy Mae Hiles Betts. He married Debra Faye Raney June 8, 1974 at the Grassy Creek Baptist Church. She survives. Other survivors include son Shane Betts (Heather) of Bowling Green; daughter Raney Dihle (Erick) of Wentzville; seven grandchildren Breyden Durham, Skyler Durham, Hayley Durham, Coltyn Betts, Meredyth Betts, Jack Dihle and Claire Dihle; twin brother Edward Mac Betts (Jerry) of Bowling Green and brother Richard Betts (Betty) of St. Louis; sister Sandra Allen (John) of Bowling Green; uncle Billy Joe Betts (Peggy) Bowling Green; aunts Willene Gamm of Bowling Green, Pauline Grant of Vandalia, Gladys Love (Charlie) of Bowling Green and Loretta Betts of Reno, NV; nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mike grew up in Pike County, graduating from Bowling Green High School in 1968. He served in the United States Army as a Supply Sergeant with the 1/502d infantry 101st Airborne (Airmobile)and is a Vietnam Veteran and received the Bronze Star Medal. Mike was a participant in the Great River Honor Flights as an honor guard as well as serving as a guardian. In 2015, Mike and his brothers traveled in the honor flight with his daughter Raney serving as their guardian. He was a member of the OCAW union and worked at Hercules for 35 years until his retirement. Mike was an active member of the VFW Post #5553, was active on the military honors guard and served on the Pike County War Memorial committee. He loved to travel, hunt, ride his motorcycle and four wheeler. Mike enjoyed coffee with his friends, working on the farm and watching his grandkids participate in sports and just spending time with them. Serving as pallbearers will be Richie Allen, Troy Allen, Bobby Betts, Jesse Betts, Conner Betts, Jody Betts and Brendan Betts. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Terry Conrow, David Brown, Larry Brown, Greg Brown, Steve Gamm, Rodney Gamm, Kent Betts, Monte Sisson and Danny Wood. Memorials may be made to the Pike County Hospice, VFW Post #5553 or the Pike County War Memorial.