Schwengels, Betty M. (Pickett) 1918-2005

SCHWENGELS, PICKETT, PEDRICK, KINNE, OBRYANT, FUNK

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/14/2005 at 19:50:26

Betty M. Schwengels
November 11, 2005

Betty M. Schwengels, 87, of Grinnell, formerly of Fairfield died at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at Mayflower Health Care Center in Grinnell.

She was born Jan. 8, 1918, in Ottumwa to Frank and Adeline Pedrick Pickett. She married Forrest V. "Frosty" Schwengels July 3, 1943, in Winfield, Kan. He died April 10, 1989.

Mrs. Schwengels grew up in Ottumwa and graduated from Ottumwa High School and Parsons College, Fairfield. She lived in various locations in the United States and foreign countries while her husband was in the U.S. Air Force, including several years in Greece. They moved to Fairfield in 1963 and taught at Parsons College until it closed. She had lived the past four years in Grinnell. During her husband's tenure as a state senator, she assisted him and worked at the senate switchboard.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield and Chapter MB PEO. Mrs. Schwengels was active in the Republican party and served as secretary of the Republican Central Committee and Wit and Wisdom. She was on the boards of the Fairfield Women's Club, the county historical society and the Jefferson County Museum. In addition, she was Americanism chairwoman of Republican Women, a volunteer at Jefferson County Hospital and sang with the women's club chorus.

Surviving are a daughter, Suzanne Schwengels and husband Darwin Kinne, DVM of Grinnell; two sons, Forrest V. Schwengels II and wife Joyce of Oak Ridge, Tenn. and Paul Schwengels and wife Donna Vivio of Tacoma Park, Md.; seven grandchildren, Dawn O'Bryant and Chip, Matthew, Steven, Robin, Benjamin and Nicholas Schwengels; five great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren, JoEllen Funk and Jeff, Dan and Brad Kinne; and two step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and one brother, Prof. Paul Pickett.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, with the Rev. Sandra Hanna officiating.

Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. The family will receive friends 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Pedrick Funeral Home, Highway 1 North, Keosauqua. Memorials to her church, the F.V. Schwengels Scholarship Fund at Indian Hills Community College of Mayflower Home, Grinnell, may be left at the funeral home or church or mailed to the family at 208 Broad St., South Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua is in charge of arrangements.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005