Betty Nadine Soper

Betty Nadine Soper (nee Reeser-De Spain) was called to her eternal home on May 9, 2023 at the age of 88.  Betty was born July 1, 1934 in Jacksonville, AR and moved to Kansas City, MO in 1940 and remained in the area the rest of her life.   She was preceded in death by her father John “Cloyd” Reeser, 1939; mother Opal Sizemore Reeser-De Spain, 1974; adopted father Francis De Spain, 1991; brothers Jerry Reeser-De Spain, 2003 and Gary De Spain, 2012; and by her husband Donald L. Soper, 2020.

Don and Betty were married on December 12, 1952. For over 50 years, they worked in the hospitality business, owning motels and restaurants in Northland Kansas City.  Starting in 1979 they developed Basswood Resort in Platte County, for which they received several awards, until they retired in 2004.

An active promoter of Platte County, Betty was known as “Mrs. Platte County.”  Among the awards and honors she received were “Outstanding Platte Countian” (later re-named the “Betty Soper Historical Award”) by the Platte County Historical Society; Platte County “Citizen of the Year” by the Platte County Business and Professional Association; and the Platte City “Truman V. Glenn Award.”

Betty was an elder in the First Christian Church of Platte City and was a devoted worker for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She served many offices in the Platte Purchase Chapter of the DAR and was an avid genealogist.  She assisted the Platte County Historical Society as executive secretary and was the bulletin editor for 17 years. She was the restoration chairman and curator of the Platte County Ben Ferrel Museum for many years.  Betty served as president of the Platte City Chamber of Commerce, the Platte Country BPA, and was the founding member and president of the Platte County Eleemosynary Society.  She was a two-term president of the Missouri State Campground Owners Association and the founding chairman of the Platte County Travel and Tourism Council. She served as the alumni chair of the North Kansas City High School Class of 1952 from 1972-2016. 

Even though Betty received many honors throughout her life, she considered her greatest titles to be wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her daughter Susan Soper Hurd-Van Amburg (Jim); son Donald “Duane” Soper (Val); daughter Alisa Soper James (Mike); six grandchildren Heath Hurd (Monica), Reese Hurd (Casandra), Donald “Alex” Soper (Jordan), Sammy Soper Robertson (Dylan), Lauren James Purcell (Nolan), Brian James; and four great-grandchildren Archer & Nadine Hurd, Ashton Hurd, and Benning Robertson.

Family will receive friends Monday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m., with a Celebration of Life at 12:00 p.m., followed by entombment at Terrace Park Funeral Home, 801 Northwest 108th Street, Kansas City.

It was Betty’s desire that any memorials go to the Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum for the perpetual care fund, PO Box 103, Platte City, MO 64079 or the First Christian Church of Platte City, 708 3rd St, Platte City, MO 64079.