Betty "Jean" (Tincher) Thomas

Betty “Jean” (Tincher) Thomas, 89 years of age, of Beatrice passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Beatrice Health and Rehabilitation. She was born on March 20, 1936 in Lincoln to Frank and Bessie (Svoboda) Tincher. Jean moved to Liberty with her family at the age of 1. She attended Liberty Public Schools through 2nd grade when her family then moved to Blue Springs where her mother had taken a teaching position due to the lack of teachers during WWII. After completing the 4th grade, her family moved back to their farm on the north edge of Liberty. Jean completed the rest of her elementary and secondary education at Liberty, graduating in 1953. At the end of her junior year, she attended Girls State at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

The summer after graduating, Jean attended Fairbury Junior College and then taught at Red Diamond Rural School 3 miles north of Adams. She took Saturday classes at Fairbury Junior College the next summer and then taught at New Hope Rural School located between Liberty and Wymore. Jean then attended the University of Nebraska for the 1955 – 1956 school year. In the fall of 1956, she took a teaching position with the Barneston Consolidated School where she taught kindergarten and 1st grade for 5 years.

On August 8, 1956, Jean married Charles Thomas. They lived north of Summerfield, Kansas then moved to her family farm on the north edge of Liberty. Five children were born to this union: Gregg, Julie, Scott, Kim and Chris.

Jean was a member of the Congregational Church and then the Christian Church of Liberty. She was a member of the OES in Liberty until it closed when she transferred her membership to Wymore. Jean held several offices and was a grand warder. She received her 50 year pin in October of 2004. Jean belonged to the TEN extension club and American Legion Auxiliary. She was secretary and treasurer of the Liberty School for 6 years. Jean worked at H & R Block in Beatrice for 5 years.

In 1982, she and Chuck were divorced and after staying a year in Liberty, she moved to Beatrice where she became employed at the First National Bank. Jean worked for them for many years. She also became a member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. As a member she served as a deaconess, deacon elder and Sunday School Teacher.

Jean enjoyed reading, playing cards, embroidering and traveling. Her greatest love was her family, taking trips with them and just spending time. Jean took her family of 20 members on 7 family vacations. She always took each of her 10 grandchildren out for supper and a game of miniature golf on their birthdays.

Jean always said her purpose in life was to be a care giver and she certainly spent most of her life doing this. She always said she’d like to be remembered as a simple person because it was the simple things in life that brought her the most happiness.

Jean is survived by her children, Gregg Thomas and wife Linda of Liberty, Julie Bowhay and husband Todd of Holmesville, Kim Cram and husband Roger of Madison, South Dakota, Christine Thomas of Beatrice; daughter-in-law, Sherry Thomas of Liberty; grandchildren, Heather Parde and husband Nick, Ryan Thomas and wife Joey, Nick Thomas and wife Cara, Tanner Bowhay and wife Emily, Jordan Robeson and husband Travis, Brittany Freeman and husband Marshal, Erica Joy and husband Marshall, Danielle Ambrose and husband Seth, Dylan Bludorn and wife Brooklyn; 23 great grandchildren; sister, Patricia Collman and husband James of Palo Alto, California; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Scott Thomas; grandson, Colten Bowhay; great grandchildren, Taylor Bowhay, Addison Wilson; and brother, Ron Tincher.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, June 27, 2025 at the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Beatrice with Pastor Jeff Collins officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Wymore Cemetery. There will be no viewing but a register book will be available to sign at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from noon to 8 PM with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 PM. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice in care of the mortuary. Condolences may be left online at www.harmanwrightmortuary.com. Harman-Wright Mortuary & Crematory in Beatrice in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty "Jean" (Tincher) Thomas, please visit our floral store.