Betty Jean (Chickering) Messerschmidt (2016)

CHICKERING, MESSERSCHMIDT

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 7/24/2016 at 20:57:12

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
July 24, 2016

Betty Jean Messerschmidt, West Des Moines

Betty J. Chickering Messerschmidt, 91, was reunited with God on Friday, July 22, 2016, at Kennybrook Village in Grimes, Iowa with all of her family at her side. Betty, while born in Winterset, Iowa, spent the majority of her adult life in West Des Moines. Betty is survived by her three children, Rick (Anita), Bill (Teresa) and Janet Messerschmidt. She was also blessed with 4 grandchildren, Tony (Stephanie), Daniel (Carolina), Kristen and Drew (Mandy) Messerschmidt, along with seven great-grandchildren, Malia, Londyn, Jersey, Brayden, Nicholas, Olivia and Isley.

Betty married Roy W. Messerschmidt in 1947. While they divorced during a difficult period in their lives, they were good friends in the end celebrating holidays together with family. Betty was the only remaining survivor of a traditional Winterset, Iowa, farm family of 10 kids, 6 boys and 4 girls. The family emphasis of her upbringing remained with her throughout her life as she always talked about and cherished her family both in their daily lives as well as their memories. Other important parts of Betty's life were her strong faith in God, music and friends.

A celebration of her life will be 2 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2016 at McLaren's Funeral Home in West Des Moines with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Family will greet receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the West Des Moines Historical Society, which displays one of Betty's historic family name treasurers, a Chickering Piano.