Dawley, Betty Jane (Bentley) 1927 - 2020

DAWLEY, BENTLEY, EMERY, BLAESS, BIGALK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Betty Dawley, age 92, formerly of Bluffton and Harmony, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at Traditions of Preston, in Preston, Minnesota.

A public graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the Burr Oak Cemetery beginning at 11:00 am.

Betty Jane was born on December 14, 1927 to Lawrence and Mildred (Emery) Bentley on the family farm in rural Winneshiek County. Betty attended country school near Chimney Rock in rural Bluffton, Iowa.

In 1947, Betty married the love of her life, Clifford Dawley in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. As a young couple they began farming together in the Bluffton area. Betty wasn’t afraid of hard work. She assisted Clifford with the chores, all while raising their four children.

After Clifford passed away, Betty decided to share her love for cooking with the local communities that she lived in. During these years, Betty owned and operated three restaurants; Home Café in Mabel, Minnesota, BJ’s Café in Washington, Iowa and finally the Country Bread Basket in Harmony, Minnesota. She was famous for her wonderful pies, cinnamon rolls, hot beef plate and her delicious homemade salads that filled the salad bar of her cafe.

Betty enjoyed playing cards with her brothers and sisters, especially 500. She was a wonderful seamstress, sewing clothing for her children, making quilts and cross-stitching. She raised a variety of vegetables in her gardens and did plenty of canning over the years. Betty also enjoyed wallpapering, not only in her own home, but the homes of her family.

Betty will be remembered for her big heart and the love she hard for her family. Visits from her grandchildren top the list of special moments in her life. These were times that she truly treasured.

Those left to cherish her memory include her three daughters; Caroline (George) Blaess of Ohio, Hazel Dawley of Mabel, Minnesota and Susen (Keith) Bigalk of Canton, Minnesota, 22 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren, a brother, Clifford (Viola) Bentley of Shueyville, Iowa and a sister in-law, Mary Bentley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clifford in 1973, a son and daughter in-law Wayne (Jett) Dawley, two great-grandchildren, siblings; Charlotte, Margaret , Ted and Claude.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home database

Burr Oak Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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