Elizabeth Rachel “Bettye” (Drachenberg) Zatopek

Elizabeth Rachel “Bettye” (Drachenberg) Zatopek, 92, of La Grange, died on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Jefferson Place Assisted Living in La Grange. Visitation will be at Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home in La Grange on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Famil y will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service is set for Saturday, July 11, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in La Grange. In a private family service, she will be buried beside her husband in the Zatopek family plot in the Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus. She was born Elizabeth Rachel Drachenberg, the fifth of seven children to Julius Christian and Glotilda (Walzel) Drachenberg on Aug. 21, 1922, on the family farm in the Beasley-Tavener area of Fort Bend County. She attended the Tavener School and Richmond High School and graduated from East Bernard High School. She attended Southwestern Business University. She married Lt. Leland Frank Zatopek of Columbus on Sept. 7, 1946, at the First Methodist Church in Rosenberg. In 1948 after Lt. Zatopek completed his tour of Army duty, which included serving in Japan after World War II, they moved to La Grange where she became a homemaker and mother, and Dr. Zatopek started his medical practice. Mrs. Zatopek was a 1957 charter member of the local hospital auxiliary and actively volunteered in three La Grange hospitals making her the longest active member in the auxiliary. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in La Grange. Mrs. Zatopek was the nursery Sunday school teacher for many years. She was involved with vacation Bible school and Methodist Youth Fellowship. In later years, she was a member of the Friendship Sunday school class, a greeter and usher, and a volunteer at Second Chance. Mrs. Zatopek joined the Trinity Hill Home Demonstration Club in 1949 and was a 58 year member and was active in the many projects and activities of the Fayette County EE Association and Extension program. She held every office at one time or another in the Trinity Hill Club. She was involved with the Fayette County Council and committees. In 2001, she was recognized for Exemplary Leadership by the Texas Cooperative Extension Service. In 2006, she was honored as Trinity Hill’s senior citizen. She was selected as an outstanding club member. She was a Girl Scout leader for 12 years and was also involved in the La Grange PTA, Band Parents, Booster Club, and Little League. She was a member, past president, and secretary of the Colorado-Fayette County Medical Auxiliary. Mrs. Zatopek enjoyed playing bridge, cooking, needlepointing, scrapbooking for her grandchildren, gardening, and making quilt tops. She also enjoyed fishing and hunting with her husband. After 59 years of marriage, Dr. Zatopek died in June 2006. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents; five brothers: R.B. Drachenberg, Dr. Cecil Drachenberg, Dayton Drachenberg, Calvin Drachenberg, and Tilford Drachenberg; a sister, Alice Lamkin; two nephews: James Lamkin and Timothy Drachenberg; one infant nephew; and a son-in-law, H. Porter Everts, Jr. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan and Thomas E. Marburger of San Antonio and Shara Zatopek of Houston; a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David L. and Cynthia Zatopek of La Grange; one grandson and his wife, C. Dayton and Erica Kring II of Houston; two granddaughters: Dr. Elizabeth Zatopek (her namesake) of Houston and Rebekah Zataopek of Cedar Park; a step-great grandson, Trent Fulkerson of Houston; a step-great granddaughter, Cecilia Fulkerson of Houston; three nephews: Donald Drachenberg of Rosenberg, Michael Drachenberg of Huffman, and Rick Drachenberg of Sugar Land; and three nieces: Maxine Sharp of Port O’Conner; Karen Sievers of Missouri City, and Patricia Drachenberg of Alvin. In Lieu of flowers/pot plants, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 4401 Lilac Lane, Victoria, Texas 77901; Alzheimer’s Association, Capital of Texas Chapter, 3429 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78731; or a charity of one’s choice. Cards can be mailed to the Zatopek Family (or a particular family member), 259 East Colorado, La Grange, Texas 78945. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com. Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home in La Grange was in charge of arrangements