Elizabeth "Betty" Hinshaw

Elizabeth “Betty” Hinshaw, 99, of Tontitown, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at home.

She was born May 17, 1925, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of Edwin and Mildred Pauls Brockmeyer. 

She moved to the Springdale area in 1956 from Dallas, Texas. 

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Harmony Homemakers Extension Club, Shiloh Museum and, at one time, Tellers of Tales. Betty loved her Lord and her church. She served both in several ways, including teaching Sunday School for several years and volunteering at The Bread of Life food pantry.

At various times, she was a volunteer in the public schools, receiving in 1969 a plaque for service to the youth in the Springdale High School speech department; worked with the PTA, Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts, serving as Girl Scout Neighborhood Chairman and a troop leader; served on the Springdale Library Board; and was a member of the Shiloh Museum Board for several years.

She also served on the Washington County Cooperative Extension Homemakers Council for many years, receiving an award in 1985 as Homemaker of the Year, Northwest District, and on the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council. She was a volunteer at Circle of Life hospice, which helped care for her as she approached death.

In 2022, she established the Betty Hinshaw Bird Sanctuary in Tontitown through a donation of 25 acres to the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. Habitat restoration is underway.

Ms. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, to whom she was married for 54 years; her daughter Anita Hinshaw, known as Sunny; her daughter Cathy Hinshaw, who went by Cathyrn; her sister Suzanne Rauchen; and her great-grandson Coleston Hinshaw.

Survivors include her son, Ross Edwin Hinshaw, and his wife Vivian, of Winslow; daughter Dawn Hinshaw and husband Michael Latham, of Tontitown; four grandchildren, Waylon Hinshaw, Carrie Hinshaw-Lamb, Elijah Latham and Graham Latham; two great-grandsons, Lucas Lamb and Hunter Hinshaw; two nephews, Jim Rauchen and Jerry Hinshaw; and a niece, Donna Hinshaw. She also remained close to a great-nephew, CreedeHinshaw.

Services will be Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the historic chapel at First United Methodist Church of Springdale. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. in the atrium, followed by the service at 11 a.m. The Reverends Daniel Thueson and Creede Hinshaw will officiate. Burial will be in Bluff Cemetery.

Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, the Shiloh Museum Foundation or the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation, Springdale.