Elizabeth Ellen "Bettie" (Dawson) Kiser (1922-2015)
KISER, DAWSON, ARMSTRONG, LIGHT, FRANK, WOOLRIDGE, PARK, LEE
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/22/2015 at 09:32:28
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Elizabeth E. Kiser
April 30, 1922 - August 14, 2015Elizabeth (Bettie) Ellen Dawson Kiser was born on April 30, 1922 in Vermillion, South Dakota, the daughter of Joseph Charles Dawson IV and Mabel Geneva Armstrong Dawson. Bettie graduated from Vermillion High School in 1940 and received her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education from South Dakota State University in Brookings in 1944. She met James Joy Kiser in 1946 in Chicago where he was coaching the SDSU livestock judging team. They were married in Vermillion on September 15, 1947.
Jim and Bettie moved to Ames in 1951 when Jim was hired as a professor of Animal Science at Iowa State University. Bettie went to work the following year at ISU in 4-H Extension. Kathy was born in 1954 and Janice in 1955. After her daughters were in school, Bettie re-entered the professional world in 1962 at ISU following her passion of working with young people as a freshman advisor in the college of Home Economics.
Bettie was actively involved in her daughter’s lives taking on such duties as church choir mother, Camp Fire and 4-H leader, dance recital costume maker, and chauffer extraordinaire. She never missed a concert, recital or event. One of her favorite family activities was riding horses with Jim, Kathy and Jan. Bettie had SO many interests. Among them she loved sewing Chanel suits with matching shoes, baking pies of all kinds, arranging flowers from her garden in a cut-glass vase, and decorating her home for Christmas.
Bettie belonged to professional organizations such as Faculty Women’s Club and AAUW. She was an advisor for the Animal Science Student Wives. Bettie was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing in several women’s clubs, plus she and Jim were part of a beloved couples dinner bridge club. They also enjoyed dancing, founded a square dance group, and were long-time members of Red Friars.
Bettie died the morning of August 14, 2015.
Bettie’s family includes her loving and devoted husband of 67 years, Jim; her daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Jay Light; her daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Bruce Frank; Jay’s son, Richard Light; her granddaughter, Abby Frank; and her grandson, Evan Frank. She is also survived by her younger sister, Marilyn Maurice Dawson Woolridge.
Bettie was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Evelyn Dawson Park Lee; and her brother, Joseph Charles Dawson V.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be directed to the Story County 4-H Endowment in memory of Bettie Kiser at the following address: The Iowa 4-H Foundation, Iowa State University, 3630 Extension 4-H Youth Building, Ames, IA 50011-3630.
Visitation
AUG 20. 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Collegiate United Methodist Church
2622 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA, US, 50014Memorial Service
AUG 20. 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Collegiate United Methodist Church
2622 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA, US, 50014
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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