Bettylou Holmes Burton

Bettylou Holmes Burton was a 1952 graduate from the College of Education. She spent the majority of her teaching career as an elementary teacher in Rockford, Illinois. Bettylou retired from teaching in the early 1980 ‘s and resided on a farm outside of Rochelle, Illinois. She lived a very modest and private life but wanted to make an impact in the lives of others for years to come. Bettylou was always very passionate about education and helping others. Her mother, Elizabeth Holmes, also graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1921 when NIU was a state teacher’s college. Both women were very proud of receiving a college education and being graduates of NIU. Bettylou was a generous person and supported many different philanthropic causes. She and her late husband Ken, never had children of their own, so it was important to her to help them earn what she valued most, an education.