Bettye Glinksi
Bettye Jean Glinski passed from this life on the evening of January 22nd in her home in Poteau while surrounded by her family. She was 91 years old.
She was born in Bates, Arkansas on September 9, 1934 to Fred and Burbie (Harris) Burns. Most of her growing up years was spent on a family farm in the Forrester community of Leflore County, Oklahoma. She was a genuine country girl. She attended Forrester School and graduated from Heavener High School.
She married John Glinski in 1954 and spent the next 17 years sacrificially building and maintaining the home of a United States Air Force family. She remained a devoted partner to her husband for 54 more years after their return to Heavener when military service ended.
She was both a licensed seamstress and a licensed tailor. She was also a master quilter who loved helping others learn and experience this craft she was so skilled at. She operated the Stitching Post and Bridal Shop in Heavener during the 1970’s and later worked as a Real Estate broker.
She believed in hard work and was industrious in every part of her life. She loved being part of a church family and she loved the gospel music that was so much a part of her childhood at Forrester Baptist Church.
Bettye loved being with her friends and family and she was always meticulous in the way she presented herself to others. She played an instrumental role in establishing the sewing group at First Baptist Church that is still thriving today. Her authentic personality, her warmth and generosity will be sorely missed.
Bettye is survived by her husband of 71 years, John Glinski of Poteau; three children Vicki Robinson, of Lakeland, Florida; Steve Glinski and his wife, Karen, of Poteau; Rhetta Stallings and her husband, David, of Poteau; six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Bettye is also survived by two sisters, Barbara Thompson and Pauline Fowler, one brother, Harold Burns and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Burbie Burns and brothers L. J.Burns (and wife Delora), Bob Burns (and wife Marki), as well as sister-in-law Gayle Burns, brother-in-law, Wayne Fowler and son-in-law David Robinson.
Pallbearers are her grandchildren, Kristi Vickers of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Lisa Cottrell, of Plant City, Florida, Jake Glinski, of Wister, Oklahoma, Kaynan Glinski, of McKinney, Texas, Seth Stallings, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Lydia Bojanowski, of Haughton, Louisiana.
Funeral services to honor Bettye’s life will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 29, 2026 at First Baptist Church in Heavener with Pastor Brock Hardin and Brother Mark Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Heavener Memorial Park under the care of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
Viewing will be Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.; and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until Noon.
The family will have a visitation with friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28th at Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel in Heavener.
To sign Betty’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.
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