Florence Elizabeth “Betty” Knoll Streich, age 97, of Cumberland County, passed away January 2, 2021, six weeks before her 98th birthday. She died peacefully from natural causes in the Wharton Nursing Home in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee.

Betty was born in Reading, PA, February 23, 1923, the first of 4 children born to George A. and Marie (Frey) Knoll.

Though hardship came to the family upon the death of her father when she was 10, she was blessed with the loving care of her hard-working mother Marie (who became a nurse) and her grandmother Minerva (“Minnie”) Frey and her generous uncle Braynard (“Barney”) Frey. After graduating as valedictorian from Fleetwood High School (PA) in 1939, Betty earned a BA from Ursinus College (’43) in English and Social Studies. Later she took graduate courses from U. Alabama, U. Massachusetts, Bloomsburg U., Azusa Pacific U., Columbia U. and Union Seminary. This lifelong learner became an outstanding teacher!

She met her future husband (a young pastor serving a church in the Bronx) when they both attended a seminar at Camp Mensch Mill in Berks County, PA. During the summer of 1943 they became better acquainted when Betty took classes at Union Seminary in NYC. On September 9, 1944, she married Paul Streich, the man who grew to be her dearest friend for over 60 years. A year after their marriage, she and Paul were commissioned as the first missionaries of the United Andean Indian Mission, and in 1946 arrived in highland Ecuador. In the face of initial adversities God enabled them to persevere in evangelism, church planting, and education efforts. They teamed up with dedicated Ecuadorians to establish 5 schools in mainly indigenous communities. Later, Betty was an innovative teacher at two schools in Quito, Ecuador.

After 32 years in Ecuador, the Streichs returned to Fleetwood, PA, to help care for Betty’s ailing mother Marie. Betty taught social studies at Fleetwood Middle School until 1991. They then moved to Sun City West, Arizona, and she taught homebound students in a predominantly Hispanic school district. In 1998 they settled in Uplands Village, Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. Her husband Paul (ten years older than Betty) died there in 2005. Betty’s activist nature found expression supporting social justice issues including Avalon (Women), PFLAG, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Save our Cumberland Mountains, among others. She was the ultimate fan of the Tennessee Lady Vols!

Betty was “gifted” by God with good health and a cheerful, “young-at-heart” personality! She exuded joy for life in all she undertook and loved people of all cultures and walks of life. Shaped by her “Pennsylvania Dutch” roots and the Great Depression, Betty was known for her diligence, good humor, hospitality, and compassion for the poor. She built deep friendships with several Ecuadorians and with expatriate colleagues from various countries, and treated her employees with genuine kindness. A great cheerleader in school and in life, she would lead the singing or break into song just for the fun of it. Her godly selflessness and optimism were an inspiration to many. Betty’s writing skills were evident in her countless letters to family and friends chronicling personal and ministry news. Sweater knitting filled many hours, as did reading. Her passion was history (especially Civil War and Western Hemisphere). She also loved adventures and traveled to many exotic places. Her “sticky buns” were a favorite of family and friends, and she never turned down a hot fudge sundae. She will be greatly missed!

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Paul, their first daughter Heather Ann, and Betty’s brothers George F. (“Bud”) and Richard (“Joe”).  She is survived by brother Robert (& Joanne) Knoll, Richard’s wife Gerry Knoll, 5 children: David (& Judy) Streich of Durham, NC, Mica (& Ray) Beauregard of Paoli, IN, Jonathan (& Jennifer) Streich of Lilburn, GA, Stefanie (& Dan) Morgan of Boulder, CO, and Erika (& Kevin) Bond of Ft Wayne, IN, 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 8 nieces & nephews.

In keeping with her wishes her body was cremated, and an “Affirmation of Life” celebration is being planned for this coming summer. Memorials may be made in her name to: UCC Wider Church Ministries, Uplands Village (including summer camp), Heifer Project, Mennonite Central Committee, or OMF International.

One of Betty’s favorite hymns was:

“Jesus, I live to Thee, The Loveliest and Best,

My life in Thee, Thy life in me, In Thy blest love I rest…

Living or dying, Lord, I ask but to be Thine;

My life in Thee, Thy life in me, Makes heaven forever mine.”