Betty Lorene Shelton

Betty Lorene Shelton passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026. Betty was born on December 6, 1930, in Walters, Oklahoma. Her parents were Leonard Lloyd Smith and Katherine Venita Sargent Smith, and her stepfather was C.E. Smith. She lived in many different cities in Oklahoma during her childhood and graduated from City Central High School in Oklahoma City in 1948. She was an excellent student and a member of the Wing Scouts in high school where she accumulated enough hours to pilot a plane as well as becoming proficient in Morse Code.

She married Joe Richard “Dick” Shelton on August 19, 1948, and they moved to Lovington, NM the same year. They had two children, Richard and Linda. Dick passed away on May 24, 1968, and Betty remained in Lovington until 2000 when she moved to Bedford, TX to be closer to her children.

Betty worked at several different companies in Lovington and co-owned and worked at Dick’s Café from 1959-1961. She started working as a secretary at KLEA radio station in 1961and became general manager in 1985 until she retired in 1990. During that time, she served on the New Mexico Broadcaster’s Board from 1984-1986.

Betty was a member at First United Methodist church in Lovington, where she served on the Administrative Board and the Finance Committee. She was a member of the Lea Regional Hospital Board of Trustees from 1986-1995 and served as the Secretary of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1970.

Betty was not only physically beautiful, but she had a beautiful spirit. She was quiet, courteous, honest and hard working. She taught us to do our best at whatever we attempted and always “finish what you started.”

She was an amazing seamstress, designing clothes and twirling costumes and exquisite cross-stitch masterpieces and beautiful crocheted blankets. She loved to read, play cards, and could work a NY Times crossword puzzle “with an ink pen.” She will be missed immensely.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Richard “Dick” Shelton, her parents, Leonard Lloyd Smith and Katherine Venita Sargent Smith, her stepfather, C.E. Smith, and her son, Richard A. Shelton. She is survived by her daughter, Linda L. Shields, and son-in-law, John Shields, of Bedford, TX. Four grandchildren: Marnie Klein and husband, David Klein of Los Angeles, Dicky Shelton of Los Angeles, Lee Shields of Austin, Alan Shields and wife, Jessica Shields of Austin. Four Great Grandchildren: Ivy Klein, Rhett and Vaughn Shields, and Shelton Shields.

A family-led memorial service will be held at a future date in Lovington, NM.

Memorials can be made to Freedom Hospice, 9001 Airport Freeway, Ste. 570, NRH, TX 76180, or any animal humane society.