Betty Lou Totten Kernohan, age 98, of Wellington, died September 13, 2021 at Botkin Care & Rehab in Wellington, KS.  She was a retired bookkeeper and long time employee of the Wellington Daily News, moving here from Attica, Harper County, KS in 1944 where she received her apprenticeship on a small town weekly newspaper.

She was born on June 27, 1923 at Oberlin, Decatur County, KS to Henry M. and Hattie I. (Cox) Davis.  She moved as a small child to Norton County, KS in 1925 where she grew up and graduated from the Norton Community High School in 1941.  She then moved to Harper County in 1942 and to Sumner County in 1944.

Betty worked at the Wellington Daily News under Mr. Harry L. Woods and then later under Jack and Jeane Mitchell.  She retired from the Wellington Daily News in 1985, although stayed on as  part time help until January 1997.

She was married to Melvin G. Totten on September 7, 1946 and farmed in the Wellington area for over 30 years when they moved to Wellington in 1980.  He preceded her in death October 29, 1997.

Betty later married Max W. Kernohan and they lived between the farm and her home on Sylvan Lane in Wellington to be close to a dance.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Wellington since 1954 and served as a deacon and sang in the choir for many years.  She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and past member of the St. Luke's Auxiliary.  She also served on the initial board of the Craft Senior Center.

Max Kernohan preceded her in death in July 2011.  She was also preceded in death by her parents; five sisters; three brothers; two nieces; and two nephews.

Survivors include two sons, Gary M. Totten of Wichita and Carl E. Totten and wife Carolyn of Broken Arrow, OK; one sister, Pauline Hacker of Derby; three step-daughters, Betty Devoe and her husband Bill, Debbie Allen and her husband Mark and Mary Ann Goemann and her husband Danny; two step-sons, Bob Kernohan and his wife Bev and Pat Kernohan and his wife Karen; and a host of grandchildren; step-grandchildren; and great grandchildren; also many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Graveside Services will be held at Sumner Memorial Gardens on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 11:00 A.M.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, September 16, 2021 from 1:00 – 7:00 P.M.

Memorials have been established with the First Christian Church or the Wellington Senior Center in lieu of flowers.  Contributions can be left at or mailed to the funeral home.

Frank Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.