W.B. "Mike" Rummell passed peacefully from this world to the next on Thursday, September 17, 2026. His birthday was May 17, 1926, and he came into the world after two days of labor by his mother Eva Ballentine Rummell- a breech birth, as well. His father, Willis Rummell, was grateful that God miraculously preserved the life of his wife and his new son. Many women perished in childbirth in those days, and no anesthesia was available for women in labor. This was Hartsville, SC, the deep South- only 60 years after the Civil War.  

On his 18th birthday, Mike enlisted in the US Marines and was sent to Boot Camp at La Jeune, NC. Upon completion, the Marines placed him in officer training, rather than sending him to Iwo Jima.  All his buddies sadly lost their lives on the battlefield while trying to place the United States flag on enemy territory, yet God had a different plan for Mike. 

He loved his wife Betty for 69 years after they met on a blind date for her sorority's Saint Patrick Day Dance. They married the next year on June 4, 1948, and both graduated from Oklahoma University. Even though he was a Yankee transplant from Ohio, he loved petroleum engineering and graduated with honors, even being offered a Rhode's Scholarship in England. He chose instead to marry Betty Laurence, and on graduation, they chose their first home in Ponca City, OK, where he was an engineer for Conoco. Their first daughter Vicki was born there. After a few years, they moved to Kansas where he worked for Jack Getty, owner of Beech Aircraft. Eventually, they made their way to Ardmore, OK, where Mike began work in the oil field with Betty's dad. Their second daughter Terry was born at that time. They sold the business after his father-in-law's death. In 1962, they moved to Denton, and he began the business of Shell Oil Company Distributor of Denton County. By this time, Vicki was 12 years old in 6th grade, and Terry was 8 years old in 2nd grade. The family built and grew the business for 38 years with the help of Betty and loyal employees Joel Plangman, Ray Brandenberger, Lewis Trietch, and Vicki and Terry working there in the summers. 

Mike had always loved the mountains of Colorado for their family vacations. When he and Betty discovered the mountains of Ruidoso, NM and the summer quarterhorse races which Betty loved, they decided to build a vacation home up the mountain in Alto. The couple loved snow skiing and skied all over the world, but especially loved Ski Apache outside Ruidoso. They skied into their 70s, and at that point, they had senior passes at no charge!

Mike and Betty were crazy about their daughters and the hardworking men they married who loved God, family, and country. Vicki and Joel Plangman worked in the family business for many years while Terry and Steve Sollers built a dental practice in Duncanville, TX. As the patriarch of growing families, Mike jokingly referred to himself as Father Abraham. The line-up began with Jeff and Molly Plangman of Edmond, OK, parents of Lydia, Michael, Stephen, and Anna; Amy and Keith Wagner of Bellaire, TX, parents of Lauren and Lily; Genevieve and RJ Regenold of Whitewright, TX, parents of Kate, Ayden, and Evelyn; Julia and Blake McKellar of North Richland Hills, TX, parents of Micah, Luke, and Abigail; Clayton Sollers of Bloomfield, CO, father of Noah; Katharine and Corben Nichols of Houston, TX, parents of Lily and Jane; and last but not least, Grace and Blake Santschi of Argyle, TX, parents of Asher, Judah, and Mila. The large family meant many birthdays and sports events and Mike and Betty attended many of these but never missed a graduation or a wedding. They were so proud of each grandchild, each spouse, and the 18 GREAT-grandchildren.

Mike not only faithfully cared for and invested time and energy in his own family, he served his community of Denton as well:

Faithful attendee of Denton Bible Church for many years

Trustee of Denton Independent School District

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors  

 Board of Director Cumberland Presbyterian Childrens Home

Chairman of United Way Denton County

President Kiwanis Club

Boy Scouts of America Longhorn Council

Board of Directors University State Bank

Member of Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association

National Federation of Independent Business

Mike lived well, read two newspapers every morning, laughed often, and even did his own taxes for 2025! Until his stroke in 2018, he walked 6 miles /week, and when he was 90 years old, he completed a 5K walk with his grandkids! He missed Betty terribly after she passed away in 2017 and continued to love her from a distance. He appreciated his caregivers at the end of his life - Brenda, Fidelis, Sara, and Wesley. Mike always said "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" and decorated their gravesites at Easter and Christmas in Ardmore, OK. He now joins his forefathers above. May he rest in peace. See you later, Dad, aka DoDad.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the following organizations:

Franklin Graham's Samaritan Purse, 817-595-2230

Elevate, 214-556-5916

Turning Point, USA ,844-872-1776

Young Life, 877-438-9572