Although Betty Henderson lives near Monett, she is a fine friend and neighbor to Neosho.
Thanks to Betty, the Missouri Folklore Society will hold its annual convention here in November.
“It was time to bring the meeting down here,” Betty explained. “It had been several years since we met in Southwest Missouri, and we have never met this far to the west. We have met at College of the Ozarks and in Springfield.”
Once the society board decided it was time to return to Southwest Missouri, Henderson stepped up and suggested the group meet in Neosho.
“I think Neosho is a beautiful little town. I think the group will fit right in here,” she explained. “On top of that, I have friends here who can help us make arrangements.”
Betty was born in Kansas City, but her family moved to Monett when she was very young, so Monett is truly her hometown.
In this area of the state, Betty and her husband, Bennie, are well known as country musicians. For 31 years, they have operated the famous musical programs in the old McDowell schoolhouse in Barry County. This musical attracts old-time musicians and, on occasion, some well known musicians. Their performances have been written about in several magazines and recorded on film for historical archives.
When Betty married Bennie, he was already “playing music.”
“For years, I just went along and took a book to read,” Betty explained. “Finally I decided I wanted to be on stage, too.”
At age 40, Betty took up the bass fiddle and taught herself to sing.
“I was so flat when I started,” she laughed. “When I would mess up a song on stage, Bennie would be so embarrassed.”
But she didn’t give up.
“I just kept listening to music and I learned to listen to the notes and follow them,” she said. “When I finally noticed that Bennie wasn’t embarrassed any more, I knew I had learned to sing.”
This love for music has been her interest as a member of the Missouri Folklore Society. Part of the mission of the society is to collect, record and carry on traditions of the past. These recordings and traditions may be verbal, written or electronic.
“We spend a lot of time on music because so many of us are interested in it,” Betty explained. “But we have people with all kinds of interests. We have a man who is dedicated to barns. We have a couple who are famous for their interest and knowledge of German people in the state. We have storytellers and all kind of speakers, musicians and even jig dancers.”
