Betty Jeanne Newell

Betty Jeanne (Selin) Newell, 92, passed away on September 25, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas. She passed gracefully, surrounded by her family, after a brief struggle with breast cancer.

Betty was born May 28, 1934, in Davenport, Iowa, to Lawrence Leroy Selin and Mabel Eleanor (Hanson) Selin. As the daughter of a pastor, she spent her growing-up years in many different places. She graduated from Norway High School in Norway, Michigan, in 1952.

Betty was a Christ-follower. She loved Jesus with her whole life and shared His love with others. After high school, she spent a year actively serving with God’s Invasion Army. In 1957, she was hired as a youth leader at North Topeka Baptist Church, where she served for several years.

Betty married Jack Newell on April 5, 1958. Together, they served as youth leaders at Gage Park Baptist Church while raising their own family. Throughout the years, they were part of ministries at Topeka Bible Church, The Country Chapel, and First Baptist Church of Topeka. They were enthusiastic supporters of mission work and poured the love of Jesus into the lives of people wherever they went.

Betty began working for the Seaman School District in 1968, first as a secretary at West Indianola Grade School and later as an administrative assistant in the Seaman Central Office. She retired after 25 years of service.

And Betty was the biggest Kansas Jayhawks fan who never went to KU — a Jayhawk, always and forever. Rock Chalk! She loved playing games with her friends and family. She and Jack especially looked forward to having their granddaughters stay with them for two weeks every summer. Jack always called them “the best two weeks of the year,” and Betty wholeheartedly agreed.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Newell, on October 8, 2024; her older brother, Lawrence Selin, in February 2026; and her older sister, Merilyn Blomgren, in March 1983.

She is survived by her son, Larry Newell and his wife, Judy, of Topeka; adopted son, Kent Vanderveen of Atchison, Kansas; and daughter, Sherill (Newell) Maddox of Topeka. She is also survived by her granddaughter Bonnie (Maddox) Bustos and her husband, Omar, and great-grandsons Lionel and Josiah Bustos of Fort Worth, Texas; and granddaughter Claire (Maddox) Ferko and her husband, Mackenzie, and great-grandchildren Maddox and Jackson Ferko of Elkridge, Maryland.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held Saturday, October 10, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Topeka, 3033 SW MacVicar Ave., Topeka, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Betty’s memory to Trans World Radio at https://twr.org/give, helping continue the work that meant so much to Betty: sharing the name and love of Jesus throughout the world.