Betty Lape

Betty Louise Lape, age 82, of Mahomet, Illinois, passed away on Friday, October 10, 2025, surrounded by family.

Betty  was born on August 15, 1943 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Kenneth and Dorathy (Ledyard) Godfrey.. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1961, a proud member of the Tiger Marching Band.

It was through band that Betty met the love of her life, Douglas Lape. They met outside the bandroom the end of the summer as Betty prepared to start her sophomore year and Doug started his freshman year.  They both played french horn, and sat next to one another for the next three years. Their romance continued through Junior College, and college, and after Betty finished her studies at Olivet College and Doug finished graduate school, they married on June 17, 1967 at the First Congregational Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Their love story would last 67 years, take them all over Michigan and their family grew to include two daughters, Anne Louise and Mary Alice.

Betty was known for her beautiful smile and infectious laugh. She enjoyed a good joke of all sorts and perhaps particularly when it involved one of her own foibles.  Betty devoted her life to her family, her faith, and her students, and always managed to leave things a little more beautiful than when she found them.

Betty was a teacher for many years, teaching everything from preschool to middle school, and her first love was teaching reading. She trained with Reading Recovery and the Michigan Dyslexia Institute in order to find new tools to help her students who ranged from first grade to adults how to read. She was also a teacher trainer and traveled across Michigan helping other teachers learn the skills to help struggling readers.  In her retirement, she continued to tutor students in her adopted home of Mahomet, Illinois, as well as to make sure that the neighborhood children had plenty to read.

Betty is survived by her husband Douglas Lape of Mahomet, her daughters Anne Louise (Teresa) Lape, and Mary Alice (Brian) Stauffer. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Graham Lape-Shoub, Lila and Zane Stauffer, and her sister, Claudia Jackson, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Dorathy Godfrey, her stepmother, Lila Godfrey, and many other beloved relatives.

In accordance with family wishes, she will be cremated and friends may greet the family at a visitation from 9:30-10:00 on Saturday October 18 at Blair-Owens Funeral Home (102 E. Dunbar) Mahomet.  A Celebration of Life Ceremony will follow at 10:00.  Burial will be at Shiloh Cemetery in a private ceremony at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the International Dyslexia Association. To donate, please visit dyslexiaida.org and click Donate Now.  Your contributions will help continue the work that fueled Betty’s passions.

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