BETSWORTH, Roger G. (1933-2020)

BETSWORTH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/7/2022 at 11:36:32

Roger G. Betsworth
(March 26, 1933 - June 17, 2020)

Roger G. Betsworth, 87, passed away at The Village in Indianola, Iowa, June 17, 2020. A Family Memorial Service will be held August 2, 2020. Friends are invited to join the Live Stream, found below, beginning at 2 p.m. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, March 26, 1933, to Georgia and Walter Betsworth.
Roger spent his early years in Sioux City, moving to Waterloo in high school. After high school, Roger attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. While there, he became close friends with the pastor and his wife at the Methodist church in Annapolis. It was during this time that he heard the call to ministry.
After graduating from the Academy, he served four years active duty; the latter two years, he was stationed in San Diego, California. While in San Diego, Roger met his future wife, a teacher, at a young adult group at the First Methodist Church.
Roger and Joan were married in 1960 at the First Methodist Church in La Mesa, California. They spent their first two years of married life in Madison, New Jersey where Roger was attending Drew Theological School. Their first child, David, was born while there. In 1962, Roger was appointed to Community Methodist Church in Huntington Beach, California, where he was involved in the social issues of the 1960s. Two daughters were born during that time, Deborah and Sharon. The family moved to San Bernardino, California for two years when Roger was appointed to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
In 1973, Roger earned his PhD from the University of Southern California. Simpson College offered him a position as Chaplain and Professor of Religion, and the family moved to Indianola, Iowa. In 1982, he moved to full time teaching. During that time, he published two books, The Radical Movement of the 1960s and Social Ethics: An Examination of American Moral Traditions.
Roger retired from Simpson College in 1998. One of the best parts of retirement was spending time with the grandchildren and family. During retirement, he continued to teach in the church, write Bible studies, and preach. He and Joan enjoyed traveling, tandem biking, and reading.
Roger moved to the memory care unit at the Village. The family is grateful to all the staff who cared for him. He was known for his love of singing, and he knew the words to many hymns as well as the songs of his era. He sang up to the end.
Roger is survived by his wife Joan, three children, David (April), Deborah (Norm), and Sharon (Tom), three grandchildren, Christopher (Candice), Katie, Emily, and five great-grandchildren, Flora, Iris, Elijah, Isajah and Luna. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and brother.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Betsworth Memorial Scholarship at Simpson College or The Good Shepard Fund at The Village. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/