Bette ValJean Wensel

Bette ValJean McKee Wensel was born August 29, 1936 in Abilene, Kansas to Esther Mae (Ehrsam) McKee and Virgil Olney McKee Sr.. Always the multi-tasker she went to be with her Lord and Savior June 16, 2011 for a well deserved rest at the age of 74. She was Baptized in the First Methodist Church of Abilene which her father (the son of a Minister) helped construct. ValJean married Max Wensel in 1954 and they lived in Salina, Kansas until 1966 and of this union five children were born. Because of Max"™s occupation they lived in Baton Rouge and New Orleans before moving to Oklahoma City for the construction of Liberty Bank Tower. They were divorced in 1985. ValJean had been involved in Residential Property Management since 1971, when she became a partner, in ownership, of two apartment complexes. She held a Real Estate License, had been a member of the Metropolitan Realtors, The Apartment Association, and of IREM"™s ARM of which she served a term as President. At one time she supervised the management of properties in Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado for a California partnership. She retired from American Fidelity Property Company in 2007, where she supervised the management of properties in Norman, Oklahoma City, Stillwater, El Reno and Woodward. She loved hosting holiday parties for family and friends, traveling, fishing, working in her flower and vegetable gardens and redecorating her and Bill"™s home. ValJean"™s love for travel started at an early age, taking trips with her parents and younger sister. One of her favorites was Walleye fishing in Canada. She was proud of the fact she had seen so much of the United States. Her companion and dearest friend (for over twenty years) Bill Murphy is from New York so there were numerous trips to the East Coast and a shared love of Mexico led to several vacations there. Four of her visits to Mexico included her children which she so enjoyed. Of course there were also those fishing trips! ValJean was predeceased by two sons, Damon Keith (Chip) and Charles Douglas; her parents; two brothers, Lewis and O.E; two sisters-in-law, Liz and Ann; one niece, Sue; one nephew, Timothy; and one brother-in-law, Wayne. She is survived by son Michael Max Wensel(wife Marcella); two daughters, Jeri Jeanne Wensel and Melisa Marie Muenker (husband Chris); three grandsons, Erik Donald Henson (wife Stacey), Charles Joseph (C.J.) Snider, Max Christian Muenker and one great-granddaughter Kendall Lee Henson; three brothers, Richard Kay McKee (Abilene, KS), Quentin Ray McKee (Salina, KS), Virgil Olney McKee Jr. (Oklahoma City): one sister Patricia Ann Little (Abilene, KS); two sisters-in-law Barbara McKee (Wichita, KS) and Phyllis McKee (Abilene, KS) plus numerous nieces and nephews. ValJean is also survived by Bill Murphy and his sons and their families; Bill Murphy Jr. (wife Stephanie and sons Will and Wes) and Mike Murphy (wife Kristen). In lieu of flowers ValJean would like contributions to be made to the Child Abuse Center or the Children"™s Center in Bethany, Oklahoma. There will be a private memorial at the home of ValJean and Bill. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bette ValJean Wensel please visit our Sympathy Store.