Billie's Obituary
Billie Kay Dangler, 82, of Brookston, passed away peacefully surrounded with her beloved John and family at her side on Sunday evening, October 26, 2025.
Billie was born November 9, 1942, in a log cabin in Monticello, Indiana to the late Otis Dewey and Dorothy Mae (Clark) Banks. At 5 years old, her mom died, her father was running a restaurant in Monticello so this led to her spending much of her young life living with her father’s sisters and summers with her grandmother, then eventually being raised by her older sister Anna Mae, enjoying the camaraderie of her cousins. A proud Chalmers Cardinal, Billie graduated from high school in 1960 and started a family. With changes at home unfolding in1976 she came up with a plan to support her family. She got a car and graduated from Rudae’s School of Cosmetology and started her career in cosmetology with Margaret Oiler in Chalmers while also working in the salon in JC Penney’s. During this time she also started a Wallpaper Hanging business with another girlfriend.
With four busy children at home, she decided to bring her main source of income closer to home by opening a hair salon and tanning bed service at her home in Chalmers. In the early 90s Billie’s life got a little busier in a good way! She met John and he quickly became a major co-parent and partner in life for his and her children. She and John carried out a plan to build a beautiful home that became the perfect sanctuary for the life they envisioned. Within a year of their marriage, Billie and John welcomed Inez and Johnny into their daily life to complete their family. Billie again opened an in-home beauty salon and continued her career at Purdue University transitioning from the mail room at McCutcheon Hall to an administrative role at the Purdue Power Plant where she continued until she retired. In retirement, Billie took great pleasure volunteering with hospice programs in White County, spending time with her Book Club friends and her and John traveling to visit their kids and grandkids.
Billie was a faithful member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Reynolds and now Delphi, Indiana. She leaned on her faith at all times; when her life looked stormy and uncertain she gave praise to the blessings God granted. She took great solace in the Church and was a faithful believer in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One of her greatest gifts was her compassion and kindness, she was so sweet to everyone she came in contact with; no one was a stranger. She believed that kindness should be given to even the most unkind because you don’t know what their struggle in their life might be. She truly had a heart of gold and it showed with everything she did.
She continued to share many memories and messages during her life and one we thought we’d share is, “God is in our lives every day and every minute, we are all so blessed.”
As you all know Billie was a spunky, feisty, trendy and an in-charge kind of lady who loved a challenge and strived to continue learning as the world changed. She was a “senior” techno geek…., boy she really did enjoy each day. Her downtime pleasures were gardening, canning, sewing, crocheting, hummingbird watching and the role of professional maker of her coveted Black Raspberry Jelly. And her Friday morning joy was spending time with her friends at 2 Guys Bakery in Brookston, “the group” affectionately known as the “Brookston Mafia”. Her ultimate contentment was spending time with John on their beautiful property – a true paradise!
Surviving is the love of her life and best friend, her husband, John C. Dangler; her children, Jackie (Andy) Tepe, Jane (Greg) Gronauer, Judi (Rick) Brummett, Tony (Elizabeth) Banes, Inez (Ryan) Wildenborg and Johnny Dangler; and a special cousin, Jim Banks. And her 19 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren whom she had such a special bond. Preceding her in death along with her parents are her two sisters, Anna Mae Faker and Jacqueline Banks.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral mass at 11 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Delphi; Fr. Dan Duff to celebrate the Mass. Following Mass there will be a luncheon provided for family and friends in the church fellowship hall until the scheduled 2 p.m. interment in Chalmers Community Cemetery.
Because of her love for people and animals, memorials may be made in Billie’s name to the White County Hospice or Purdue Animal Hospital.
