An E. M. Viquesney Archive
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Ernest Moore "Dick" Viquesney and 2nd wife Betty in later years.
"DICK" and "BETTY"
After the death of his first wife Cora Barnes in 1933 from diphtheria, Viquesney remarried in 1936 to Elizabeth Sadler. He and Betty spent 10 happy years together before her death in August 1946.
A promotional flier from Dick and Betty. Photo supplied by Viquesney genealogist Shirley Tracy.
It was seldom that Viquesney ever shared the spotlight with anyone, but in the flier above he gives equal billing to Betty. The religious graphic at the bottom center bears the faintly legible message, "Joyous Yuletide", marking this as a Christmas season giveaway. Although it dates from at least 1943 (note the mention of "The Eagle's Watch" from that year), the photos of Dick and Betty are from much earlier.
Spencer Evening World photo supplied by Stanley Griffith, Bloomington, Indiana.
Although Viquesney loved his first wife Cora very much, it was clear he idolized Betty. In the photo above, he gazes at her with a lovestruck expression as she plays the organ. Betty was an accomplished musician, much in demand for concerts, conventions and restaurant engagements.
During World War II, Dick and Betty drove almost nightly from Spencer to Bloomington to entertain servicemen at the USO, which Viquesney blamed for taking a toll on their health, and for Betty's early death, two months after which, Viquesney, distraught and unable to continue on, committed suicide on October 4, 1946.
During World War II, Dick and Betty drove almost nightly from Spencer to Bloomington to entertain servicemen at the USO, which Viquesney blamed for taking a toll on their health, and for Betty's early death, two months after which, Viquesney, distraught and unable to continue on, committed suicide on October 4, 1946.
