DOB: May 5, 1924, born in South St. Louis City, at 1425a Minnesota Ave.

DOD: November 11, 2021, at the age of 97, of natural causes while in the palliative care of BJC Hospice nurses and the caring staff at Sunrise on Clayton (where she lived the last 4 months of her life).

Everyone loved Betty. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt and friend – sharing her happy spirit and sense of humor with all (including memorable appearances in the Variety Shows at Bethesda Orchard Apartments, where she lived for 10 years . . . she could have had a career in vaudeville!). Even at the age of 97, she had many friends, most of whom were significantly younger, which speaks to how people were drawn to her.

Betty’s parents were Patrick “Paddy” Keough and Elizabeth “Liz” Costley Keough. Paddy became a famous St. Louisan in 1955 when he won a car on the nationally popular $64,000 Question quiz show (for baseball), and was also given a life-time pass to the press box by the St. Louis Cardinals. Paddy also passed down to Betty a love for their Irish heritage. Her elder siblings were Bill and Norma, and her younger sibling was Harry (married to Alma Flores, of Mexican descent). They had a happy family, full of healthy activities such as swimming, ice skating, snow skiing, baseball, and soccer. Betty and Norma also loved to travel and meet people around the country and world, in particular, to Canada, Europe, South America and Mexico. They attended a number of Winter Olympics, World’s Fairs and the 1970 World Cup. Betty played the piano, like her mother, and loved music and singing. She worked for more than 40 years as a clerk/accountant for Missouri Pacific Railroad/Union Pacific Railroad.

In 1937, Betty and Norma went to an exhibition ice hockey game in St. Louis and fell in love with the sport. They attended games from that point on. They were original St. Louis Blues season ticket holders and Betty was still going to many games in their Stanley Cup winning season in 2019! They were devoted St. Louis University Billiken fans – for soccer (especially from 1967-1982, the years their baby brother Harry was head coach) and for ice hockey (in the 1970s when there was an NCAA team). Their love for ice hockey even propelled them to travel with Canadian fans to the U.S.S.R. in 1972 for the Summit Series, when Canada defeated the U.S.S.R.

Betty and Norma were great supporters of their extraordinary brothers – Bill (who gave 5 years in the prime of his life to the U.S. Army in WWII and was an extraordinary athlete . . . and an amazing soccer player and gymnast whose career was performing a stunt trampoline act nationally under the stage name of Willy Keo); and Harry (who played for years on the U.S. National Team including beating England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, and was on the 1952 and 1956 U.S. Olympic Teams, coached SLU to 5 NCAA Div I championships, and is in the National Soccer Hall of Fame both as a player and as a coach). Her nephew Ty also played on the U.S. National Team for years, was on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, was a 4 time All-American at SLU, played professionally for years, and is a long-time national soccer broadcaster.

Betty loved and was very proud of all her nieces and nephews, and their spouses (oldest to youngest): Patrick Keough, William “Ty” (Abby) Keough, Bambi Keough, Kip Keough, Colleen Keough (Joe) Erker, Margaret “Peggy” Keough (Tim) Disbennett; and great-nieces/nephews: Genevieve Erker (Charlie) Caffrey, Julia Erker (Rohit) Kesarwani, Meredith Keough (Mike) Schrik, Madeleine Keough (Danny) Garbo, Nina Disbennett, Riley Keough, Timothy “TJ” Disbennett, Tyrone “Ty” Disbennett, and Patrick Keough; and great-great-nieces/nephews: Scotty Caffrey, Leela Kesarwani, Josie Caffrey, and Amara Kesarwani . . . and Patrick Schrik on the way!

Betty donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine. A memorial mass is being planned for later. To be notified of those plans when they’re set, please contact Colleen Keough Erker at bettykeough@gmail.com. Betty always cared deeply about poverty and social injustice. In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to Lolly’s Place, Operation Food Search, or the charity of your choice.