Betty-Jo (Fliginger) Cowden-Bierbaum

Betty Jo Fliginger-Cowden-Bierbaum, left this earthly life to immediately pass into the presence of Christ for eternity Thursday, January 9, 2025.  At the age of 87 years old, she took her last breath at her residence, with nurses, aids and family by her side.

Funeral services rejoicing in her life will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 3pm (CST) with Sorrells Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for visitation and memories the hour prior to the service. Graveside will occur at a date to be determined in Pittsburg, Kansas at Highland Park Cemetery.

Betty Jo was born on November 20, 1937 to the late Harold Miller Fliginger and Alta Mae Johnston-Fliginger in Eldorado, Kansas. She has also joined her previously departed husband of 24 years, LTC (Ret.) Ronald Ray Cowden, second husband of 24 years, LTC (Ret.) Carl Ray Bierbaum, grandson, Lucas Daniel Cowden, and sister, Arvilla Mae West. Survivors include two sons, Ronald Joseph Cowden (Gerri) of Panama City Beach, FL, and Dr. Howard Daniel Cowden (Lynda) of Palm Harbor, FL, two stepsons, Michael Lee Bierbaum (PJ) of Tallahassee, FL, and Curt Otto Bierbaum (Kim) of Spring Hill, KS, and stepdaughter, Vicki Bierbaum-Haddock (David) of Murfreesboro, TN. Grandchildren include Alexandria Cowden-Ray (Chris) of Tallahassee, FL, Jamie Cowden-Gamble (CJ) of Helena, AL, Jeremiah Joseph Cowden of Panama City, FL, Caren Jean Bierbaum of Tallahassee, FL, Trisha Bierbaum-Brinkley (Blaine) of Cotton, GA, Krystal Michelle Bierbaum of Tallahassee, FL, Sarah Bierbaum-Peltzman (Eric) of Lawrence, KS, and Matthew Benjamin Bierbaum of Beaumont, TX, Sean Robert Schumacher of Olathe, KS, Jonathan Paden Haddock of Murfreesboro, TN, Casey Haddock-Belcher (Daniel) of Woodbury, TN, and Zachary David Haddock (Rachel) of Rockvale, TN. Additional survivors are 20 great-grandchildren and 2 endeared nieces of Stillwater, OK, being Susan West-Justice (Greg) and Ericka West.

From Eldorado, KS, the family soon moved to Hutchinson, KS. Nearby Sterling, KS, was where Betty Jo’s father owned and operated the Western Auto Store. Her Grandfather, Joseph Fliginger owned the family farm in Sterling and when Harold lost his life at a young age, the rest of the family leaned on Grandpa Joseph to survive. Joseph Fliginger cared for the family and acted as father for the girls, while continuing to farm that massive acreage well into the 1960’s. Meanwhile Betty’s Mom, Alta, along with Arvilla and Betty, migrated to Pittsburg, KS. Betty Jo graduated top of her class at Pittsburg High School in 1955, and Valedictorian for the Class of 1959 from Kansas State Teachers College. An engraved brick exists at the main entrance to now named Pittsburg State University to mark her accomplishments for Bachelors and Masters Degrees.

Another graduate of that 1959 PSU class was Ronald Cowden. The pair married on August 8, 1959, and began a long military life as career Army Aviator and devoted military spouse. Children followed and the family moved frequently with some stationing being a mere 6 weeks, the longest stretching a whole 3 years! The final assignment would be at Fort Rucker, AL, coming full circle to where the helicopter training had begun so long before. A new house was built in Enterprise, AL, as Ron transitioned to Instructor Pilot and Betty went to work at Enterprise State Community College, being quickly promoted in 1973 to the Director of Computer Services for the College upon completion of a Computer Science Degree.

After a catastrophic helicopter crash in 1984, Betty remarried to Carl Bierbaum on New Year’s Day 1991 at Green Hill Presbyterian Church, Enterprise, AL, where both were long time foundation members. Within a few years both had retired and began full time commitment for the next decades to church life, local and international missions work, extensive worldly travels, Club membership and officers positions, and just loving/spiritual leading the very large combined family that was spread-out across the country. Carl went to meet his Savior in 2015, leaving a broken hearted widow that was determined to continue those dedications and responsibilities in his absence until just recently!

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the 2 churches she attended regularly outside of her home church when visiting her kids, and subsequently via internet during COVID and the twilight years of physical disability. Those churches are First Presbyterian Church of Panama City, P.O. Box 1878, Panama City, FL, 32402, and First Christian Church of Clearwater, 2299 Drew Street, Clearwater, FL, 33765.

Very special thanks to the 4th Floor Nursing Staff at Enterprise Medical Center (specifically Julie, Kisha, Patty, Sophia, Aneena, Caitlin, Serena, Desiree, Heidi, and Mom’s other favorites, Christine Miller and Chasitie Gilmore, along with the rest of staff at SouthernCare Hospice, Enterprise, AL. We would like to thank you all for your loving care of our Mom! We really appreciate all you did and can’t thank you enough!

Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory of Enterprise, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements. To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomeenterprise.com.