Billie Benton Anderson

Billie Benton Anderson, 86, a longtime resident of Ralls, Texas, died Sunday, February 19, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family. Born in Ralls, Texas, on May 20, 1930, Billie was the daughter of Tom Ed Benton and Jimmie Jewel Botkin Benton. She graduated from Ralls High School in 1947 and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock for two years. On February 18, 1949, Billie married B.L. Anderson, Jr. in Ralls. For the first two years of their married life, they lived in Kress, Texas, before moving back to Ralls where they farmed and raised their family, Kelly Kent born in 1950 and Brent Lane born in 1955. Billie was a homemaker. In 1968, having reared her sons through Kent’s graduation from high school, Billie enrolled in Texas Tech again and received her Bachelor of Education degree in 1970. B.L. always said Billie was a slow learner since she started Tech in 1947 and did not receiver her diploma until 1970. Billie began teaching in the Ralls Independent School District in 1970, and taught from the time she was 40 years old until her retirement at the age of 82. Because of her love of kids and teaching, she taught many generations of families in the Ralls area during her long teaching career. An avid Ralls Jackrabbit fan, she loved Jackrabbit Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track, for both boys and girls, middle school and high school. Billie loved Ralls, period! She loved the Ralls Museum and the History of Ralls. She was a great ambassador for the City of Ralls. Billie will be greatly missed by numerous friends and scores of students whom she had taught over the years. She was a longtime member of the Emma Church or Christ, and a member of the Ralls Jaycettes. Billie was preceded in death by her husband, B.L. Anderson, Jr. in 2005; son, Brent Lane Anderson in 1989; and her parents. Billie is survived by her son, Kent Anderson and wife Lupe of Abilene, Texas; three grandchildren, Dawn Valerie Gutierrez (Javier), Leah Martinez, and Kellie Brooke Blanchard (Ken); six great-grandchildren, Elijah, Andrea, Diego, Noah, Eryn, and Oliver Jude; and several nieces, nephews and cousins, including Dotty Korman and Ronnie Anstead and wife Nancy, of Abilene. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 22nd, at Adams Funeral Home in Ralls. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 23rd, at the Emma Church of Christ with Tim Mills officiating. Burial will follow in Ralls Cemetery under the direction of Adams Funeral Home in Ralls. Serving as pallbearers will be Buzz Cooper, Norman Roye, Jim Parks, Darcy Martin, Christopher Verett, Jeff Smith, Brent Reese and Kenny Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Cedell Anderson, Eddie Wayne Verett, Bob Kimbrough, Jimmy Moore and H.W. Mullins. The family expresses thanks to Hospice of Lubbock, as well as special thanks to Dr. Becky Raedeke for her kind and compassionate care. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lubbock, 3702 - 21st Street, Lubbock, TX 79410; or Ralls Cemetery Association.