Betty Gansen

GANSEN, ROUCHKA, BOEDING, EVENSTAD, GILBERTSON

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 6/18/2010 at 22:13:51

A Funeral Mass for Betty Gansen, 55, of Greene, will be 10:30a.m., Friday, June 18, 2010, at St. Mary Catholic Chuch in Greene with Rev. Msgr. Walter Brunkan officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Greene.

Visitation will be 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 17, 2010, at Reid’s Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene. A Scriptural Wake will take place at 7:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary conducted by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Elizabeth Rouchka was born January 4, 1955, in Cresco, Iowa, a daughter of Chester and Marian (Boeding) Rouchka and died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City. She received her education in the public schools graduating from Crestwood High School in 1973. She continued her education at the St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing graduating in 1974.

Betty was united in marriage to Michael Gansen on September 7, 1974, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes, Iowa. To this union were blessed four boys, Nathan, Brian, Kurtis, and Benjamin.

She worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN; the Allison Care Center in Allison, IA; and the Greene Family Clinic in Greene for 12 years, where she also served as office manager.

Betty was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She also volunteered her time for the Greene Elementary School Reading Program.
She organized the Farmers Market for Greene. Betty made sure the residence at the Senior Housing Development were well taken care of.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, sewing, the Dallas Cowboys, shrimp and spending time with her family. Betty was a dedicated wife and mother who fought a courageous battle with lupus for 21 years as she raised her four sons. Her devotion to her family was mirrored by her husband and children who provided Betty with years of love, support and personal care. Her family thought she was amazing! Even though she was seriously ill she taught her children life skills that many never master. Her life demonstrated the importance of service to her family, friends and community.

Living family members include her husband Michael; her four sons: Nathan
(Tori) Gansen, Cape Coral, FL; Brian (special friend Autumn Nickerson) Gansen, Greene; Kurtis (special friend Danielle Nelson) Gansen,Waterloo; Benjamin (special friend Leanne Christensen) Gansen, Cedar Falls; 2 grandchildren: Abby and Tyler Gansen;.her mother: Marian Rouchka of Cresco; four sisters: Kathleen (Tim) Gansen, Greene; Janet (James) Evenstad, Mahtomedi, MN; Mary Jane Rouchka, Hinsdale, IL; Christina Gilbertson, Troy, MI; one brother: Thomas (Deb) Rouchka, Belmond, IA.

Betty was preceded in death by her father, Chester Rouchka.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Betty Gansen Memorial Fund, 403 N. High St. Greene, IA 50636.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Reid’s Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St. Greene.