Sleister, Betty Jean (1923-2017)

SLEISTER, HANSEN, MARKLEY, HAMMER, OLIVER

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/15/2017 at 15:30:36

Betty Sleister
September 28, 1923 - November 5, 2017

Betty Jean Sleister was born to Darlene Markley on September 28, 1923, in Atlantic, Iowa. At about two years of age, she was placed in the Iowa Soldier’s Orphanage in Davenport, Iowa. At the age of four years and three months, she was adopted by Elmer and Ellen Pauline “Nellie” (Markley) Hansen, of Mason City, Iowa. Nellie was Betty’s birth aunt. On November 9, 1940, she married Robert (Bob) Sleister in Papillion, Nebraska. They made their home on a farm near Manilla, Iowa. In 1989, Betty had a major stroke while being prepped for the removal of a brain tumor. Her husband, Bob, proved a great caregiver for her, providing her encouragement in her efforts to recover. Bob died on March 9, 1996. In the fall of 1996, Betty moved to West Burlington, Iowa, to be near her youngest son and his family. She lived there until 2008 when she had a light stroke. She, then, moved to Forest City, Iowa, so her older daughter could help take care of her. She lived there until she moved into the Lake Mills Nursing Center in 2013.

Betty received her education in the Audubon and Council Bluffs public schools, graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. An excellent bassoon player, she became the first bassoonist in the Abraham Lincoln concert band and orchestra. Both ensembles received the top rating at the National Contests in Colorado Springs and Kansas City. Moreover, Betty played a solo at the National Contest in Kansas City, Missouri. Not surprisingly, while in high school, she became a substitute bassoonist for the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and played for one concert.

At the age of ten, Betty accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She very much valued her faith. Indeed, after she married she joined the Methodist Church in Manilla where she played an active role in teaching Sunday School and Bible School as well as serving with the United Methodist Women and on the church board. In 1980, she accepted a position on the Sioux City District UMW Executive Committee and served for eight years as Secretary of Global Missions and of Global Concerns. She attended the School of Christian Missions eleven times, and she served as an officer for the United Methodist Women’s group while she lived in West Burlington. At the request of one of the missionaries, she, also, knitted numerous little sweaters for premature babies in Zimbabwe.

A busy farm wife and mother, Betty canned over a thousand quarts of garden produce one year. She, also, liked to cook and bake, especially bread and rolls. She made sure her family and guests had pies, cakes, and other baked goods to enjoy. Moreover, she enjoyed sewing and made clothes for her family and friends. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She made at least one afghan for each of her children, her fifteen grandchildren, a cousin, a niece, and a good friend. She made nearly forty baby blankets for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty loved to read and talk to people. A big Iowa Hawkeyes’ fan for the last twenty years, she watched most of their ballgames. Regrettably, Betty passed away on November 5, 2017, at the Lake Mills Care Center.

Besides her husband, Betty was preceded in death by her son, Larry; a grandson, Ryan Hammer; her parents; her sister; and her brother. Betty is survived by five children: David (Priscilla) Sleister, of Exira, Paulette (Ray Hammer), of Forest City, Dennis Sleister, of Warwick, Rhode Island, James (Sheila) Sleister, of West Burlington, and Kathy Oliver, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; her daughter-in-law, Pat Sleister, of Guthrie Center; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty-eight great-grandchildren; as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017, 1:00 PM
United Church, Manilla
Rev. Vicki Fisher, Officiant

Speakers
Jim Sleister, Kathy Oliver & Alex Oliver

Music
“His Eye Is On The Sparrow”
“Precious Lord” “The Lord’s Prayer”
“Wind Beneath My Wings” “Amazing Grace”
Recorded Music

Casket Bearers
Matt Sleister Darren Sleister Natalie Hammer
Andy Sleister Tasha Troha Alex Oliver

Honorary Casket Bearers
Marti Sleister Kim Sullivan Jon Sleister
Steven Hammer Christie Stiles Mary Mansheim
Aaron Oliver Adam Oliver Maury Sleister

Interment
Oak Hill Cemetery, Irwin

Ohde Funeral Home, Manilla, Iowa 2017.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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