Betty Knecht Allen

Betty Knecht Allen, born January 31, 1927, passed March 22, 2020.

“Beloved Mother to many in China and U.S.”

Survived by 4 children: Carol Allen Green (Fred) of Corydon, IN, Linda Allen and Steven Allen of Louisville, Robert Allen (Joanna) of Salem, IN; 4 grandchildren: Daniel Green, Karen Green, Tristan Allen (Heather), Tessa Fleener (Silas); 2 great-grandchildren: Lana Allen and Eleanor Fleener; a sister, Mary Lewter of West Palm Beach, FL.

Due to Corona crisis, burial will be private/family only. Celebration of Life Service TBA at later date.

Betty treasured her church family in Salem, Agape Christian Fellowship. Agape supported them during several years of mission in China and surrounded them with love, warmth and fellowship when they returned. Betty worked in Home Health as a visiting nurse at Meadowview Nursing Home, in prison ministry, home Bible studies and was known for her warm hospitality and love for people.

She received a B.S. in Nursing from University of Cincinnati. She married Dennis Allen in 1956 in Manila, the Philippines, and joined him in mission work at Central Bible Institute. In 1957 they moved to Hong Kong and began a church work among the Chinese young people. They raised their four children there and developed close ties with many Chinese young believers who became Mom’s “Chinese Family”. She’s been greatly blessed by their faithful love, support, and visits through the years and by calls during her recent illness.

In her later years, she and Dennis taught English in Tientsin, Harbin and Quanzhou, China. Shortly after returning stateside, she suffered her first of three strokes and over the next 15 years rose to the challenge of gradually increasing left-sided weakness with its requisite mobility hurdles, yet she kept her wit and ability to communicate and that mischievous twinkle in her eyes until the end. The Lord is good!