Betty Lou Clift Rich 1930-2012

RICH SMOTHERS HENRY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/26/2012 at 18:00:58

Sioux Citry Journal
May 04, 2012

HORNICK, Iowa -- Betty Clift Rich, 82, of Hornick went to heaven on May 2, 2012, at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City with her family by her side.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holly Springs Bible Fellowship in rural Holly Springs, Iowa, with the Rev. Jim Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Willow Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.rushfamilycareservice.com.

Betty Lou was born on March 6, 1930, in Mapleton, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Sylvia (Smothers) Henry. She graduated from Mapleton High School.

Betty and Carol Clift were married on Aug. 28, 1948. They lived on a farm in rural Holly Springs, which came to be known as the Sunny Slope Farm. Carol passed away in 1966. Betty worked full-time as a secretary at Terra Chemical to support their three children, Denice, Michael, and LuAnn. Betty was later married to Bill Rich in 1970.

Betty was actively involved at Holly Springs Bible Fellowship Church and devoted her life to her family and friends, always putting others first. The best words to describe Betty are tenacious, determined, caring, enduring, and selfless.

Survivors include her three children, Denice Clift and Roger Nielsen of Akron, Iowa, Michael (Ann) Clift of Blauvelt, N.Y., and LuAnn (Joe) Fell of Franklin, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Elizabeth and Carley Fell of Franklin, Brenden, Matthew, and Gregory Clift of Blauvelt, and Vicki (Cory) McLaughlin of Lincoln, Neb.; one great-grandchild, Kirk McLaughlin of Lincoln; a sister, Lorna Henry of Mapleton; two sisters-in-law, Inga Henry of Audubon, Iowa, and Ethel Phillips of Morehead City, N.C.; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Carol in 1966; her second husband, Bill in 2008; her parents; her brother, Jack Henry; and a sister-in-law, Dorthea Hilts.