Ihns, Betty Ann (Jirak) 1939 - 2017

IHNS, JIRAK, SPALLA, WANGEN, SIMPSON, HRON, WALL, PENDERGAST, PATTERSON, BLONG, MCCUNNIFF, BRONNER, TERBERST, KLIMESH, HALVERSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/10/2017 at 10:51:36

Betty Ann Ihns, 77, of Cresco, Iowa, passed away on February 6, 2017 peacefully in her sleep at Hawkeye Care Center in Cresco.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 10, 2017 at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco. Father Dennis Cain of Notre Dame Parish will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco, and continue from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will follow the funeral service at Calvary Cemetery in Cresco where Betty will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Arnold Jr. Ihns.

Betty was born in Decorah, Iowa on November 16, 1939 to Paul Sr. and Christina (Spalla) Jirak. She attended school and graduated in Ridgeway, Iowa.

Betty met Arnold Jr. Ihns at the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville, Iowa. Together they would meet friends and enjoyed dancing. They fell in love and later married on June 28, 1961 at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, Iowa. Betty and Arnold Jr. had three daughters; JoAnn, Lori, and Christine. They lived and farmed by Bonair, Iowa until moving into their home in Cresco in the late 80’s.

Betty worked at the Cresco Care Center for many years as the head cook. She then went to work for her son-in-law at his shop, Rick’s Repair, as the office secretary until she retired. Customers came in to visit with Betty and to enjoy the freshly baked goods she would bring with her every day.

Betty was known for her amazing baking. She was best known for her kolaches and other baked goods she would sell at the Farmer’s Market in town for years. She was a wonderful cook who invited family and friends over for full meals. Everyone was welcome in her home and you never left hungry. At holidays she would invite anyone who did not have somewhere to go to join her and her family. Everyone was treated as family… You never knew who was actually family and who was a friend. Betty was a great hostess who loved to entertain at her home. You could always expect a good meal and a hot cup of coffee.

Betty had a love for gardening, bird watching and canning. She also enjoyed clipping recipes from cookbooks and magazines to add to her collection. She loved playing cards and especially loved playing BINGO. Betty enjoyed traveling with Jr. and with other family and friends. She traveled frequently on the VIP trips through CUSB Bank. Betty was a Red Hat Member as well. She spent many hours on the family farm where many parties and summer lunches were held with family and friends.

Betty was a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family was everything to her and she loved deeply. Most Sundays were spent at her home where she prepared Sunday Dinner for anyone who could attend.

Betty spent the last two and a half years at the Hawkeye Care Center in Cresco, Iowa where she made many friendships and was well taken care of by the caring staff.

Betty was a member of the Notre Dame Parish and was a woman of strong faith and religion.

Betty is survived by her daughters JoAnn (Rick) Wangen of Lime Springs, IA, Lori Ihns (the late Mike Simpson) of Cresco, IA, and Christine (Dean) Hron of Cresco, IA; seven grandchildren Jessica (Tony) Wall, Cody Wangen, Shanna Wangen (Jeff Pendergast), Joshua Patterson, Benjamen Hron, Brandon Hron, and Cassandra Hron; four great-grandchildren Ryden, Porter, and Holden Wall, and Liam Patterson; brother Paul Jr. (Sharon) Jirak of Calmar, IA; sister Lilly (Robert) Blong of Manchester, IA.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, late husband Arnold Jr. Ihns; sisters and brothers-in-law Delbert Ihns Sr., Louise (Bob) McCunniff, Hazel (Bill) Bronner, Gladys (Bill) Terberst, Francis Ihns, LaVern Ihns, Juanita Ihns, and nephews Kenny Klimesh and Tony Halverson.

Source: Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home database

Calvary Cresco Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen