GORDON, Betty Lou

GORDON, MANGELS, WILLERT, RAVNSBORG, MASSENGALE, HILL, SMITH, RUPP, SLACK, PARROTT, GILL, CURRY, ZOCH

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 11/24/2008 at 08:01:38

Betty Lou Gordon, 82, of rural Cherokee died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at her residence, surrounded by the love and support of her daughters.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee with the Rev. Armand Bertrand officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cherokee. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, with a 4 p.m. rosary by Catholic Daughters of America and a Scripture service at 7 p.m., at Greenwood Funeral Home, Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Betty was born on Oct. 9, 1926, in rural Sutherland, Iowa, to John and Irene Mangels. She was baptized and confirmed in Sutherland. She graduated in 1944 from Sutherland High School. Betty attended Spencer School of Business and worked as a bookkeeper.

On March 2, 1951, she married Vernon Gordon in the Lowry Air Force Base Chapel in Colorado. She and Vernon lived and farmed in rural Cherokee. He preceded her in death on June 6, 1998. She enjoyed and was actively involved in farm activities. Her daughters always remained the center of her life; she was always there for each of them. Her grandchildren were always a joy in her life, as they loved their Grandma g.

Betty's many interests included bingo, the ladies morning coffee in Meriden, family and friends, and her kitties, Door and Bingo. She also enjoyed playing all types of cards, her computer, occasional trips to the casino, and watching game shows. She enjoyed traveling, especially to see her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her four daughters, Pam Willert Harrmann of Sutherland, Jeanne Ravnsborg and her husband, Richard, of Quimby, Iowa, Joanne Massengale of Monticello, Ky., and Nancy Hill and her husband, Norm, of Sutherland; six grandchildren, Angela Smith of Waterloo, Iowa, Chris Smith of Dubuque, Iowa, Marc Rupp and his wife, Deonna, of Volin, S.D., Brian Rupp and his wife, Michelle, of Burbank, S.D., Jason Ravnsborg of Yankton, S.D., and Jeremy Massengale and his wife, Lela, of Monticello, Ky.; two step-grandchildren, Mark Hill of Cherokee, and Jackie Hill Slack of Clinton, N.J.; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Faye Willert of Spencer, Iowa, Betty Mangels of Waterloo, Iowa, Mabel Parrott of Aurelia, Iowa, Tiny Gill of Meriden, Iowa, and Liz Curry and her husband, Lyle, of Des Moines; brothers-in-law, Maynard Zoch of Larrabee, Iowa, Walt Gordon and his wife, Judy, of Meriden, Iowa, and Bill Gordon and his wife, Cheryl, of Cherokee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Gerald Willert (1948); her husband, Vernon of 47 years (1998); a son-in-law, Jerry Massengale; four sisters; and two brothers.