ROCHELLE – Betty Lu Barnes, a local resident and historian who passed away on Dec. 20. 2019, will forever be remembered for all that she did within the community and preserving its history for future generations.
Barnes was born on May 25, 1918 in Princeton, graduated from Rochelle Township High School in 1936 and then went on to study and graduate from the Northern Illinois State Teacher’s College with an associate’s degree in education.
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ROCHELLE – Betty Lu Barnes, a local resident and historian who passed away on Dec. 20. 2019, will forever be remembered for all that she did within the community and preserving its history for future generations.
Barnes was born on May 25, 1918 in Princeton, graduated from Rochelle Township High School in 1936 and then went on to study and graduate from the Northern Illinois State Teacher’s College with an associate’s degree in education. She taught in a one-room school house for two years before marrying her husband Floyd “Barney” Barnes in the year 1940.
After getting married her passion for history began to grow, she began traveling to different local schools giving presentations on the history of the area. While Barnes was interested in all things history, she was especially interested in genealogy and Native American history.
Throughout her time in the community she was part of many different local organizations such as the Rochelle Women’s Club, the Daughters of American Colonists and the Camp Fire Girls, as well as serving on their national board of directors. On top of being a part of these organizations she continued following her passion for history.
Anytime Barnes would hear or read something she thought was interesting, she would write it down on a notecard or cut it out and document it in boxes for the future.