Betty Gladine Dracon

Betty Gladine (VanKirk) Dracon, born August 5, 1935 in Belle Fourche, SD, the daughter of Charles and Emma VanKirk and the sister to Lillian, Dorothy, Ella, Charles, William (Bill) and Dean Richard, passed away on May 2, 2025 at the age of 89.

Her family moved to Billings, MT where she eventually met her future husband, Julian Dracon, at a high school dance – he was on military leave from the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. After a 3-year, long-distance courtship they were married in Camden, NJ on November 13, 1955.

Gladine followed Julian through his 26-year military career living at several Naval bases across the US and in Japan, and raised three children (Juldine, Elizabeth and Donald). Eventually settling in the Denver metro area in 1971, she began her career with Sears, Roebuck and Co. as a temporary customer service representative for the Christmas holidays. Over the next 30 years, Gladine worked for Sears in several managerial positions in training and service across the Denver area, often troubleshooting problem performing stores.

Gladine always believed in providing for children and the importance of family. She was a pre-school teacher and head of a pre-school program, and the primary caregiver for her 3 children given Julian’s Naval career. Most of her charitable giving and participation in organizations focused on improving the lives of children. Gladine enjoyed travelling especially when this was for family gatherings.

She was an active member and officer of the Eastern Star (Worthy Matron), Ladies Fleet Reserve Association (West Coast Regional President), Daughters of the Nile, Armed Forces E9 Association, and Denver Cinema Club (President). When asked about what she enjoyed about these organizations she stated, “I enjoy the people in these groups…because it’s like we’re all family.”

Gladine is survived by her daughter Juldine and her husband Jeff Cohen; daughter Elizabeth and her husband Hoop Wellons; son Donald and his wife Kimberly Dracon; grandchildren Danine Mann, Amy Stewart, Nathaniel Dracon and Douglas Dracon; and great grandchildren Brooklyn Mann, Bryce Stewart and Liam Stewart.

Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10AM followed by a reception. Both will be held at Horan & McConaty, 11150 East Dartmouth Avenue, Aurora, CO. Burial will also be held on Friday, June 20 at 2PM, at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Please share your memories of Gladine and condolences with her family by signing the Guestbook below.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations are made to either Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation-JRDF) at www.breakthrought1d.org/ways-to-give/ or Shriners Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT at https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/salt-lake-city