Margery (Harms) BETTEN

BETTEN, HILBRANDS, HARMS, FLAHERTY, LUTZ, DALE, SMITH, CHIRPICH, MODDER, ASMUS, WIBBEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/23/2016 at 20:34:00

July 22, 1921 ---- September 21, 2016

Margery Betten, 95 of Pella and formerly of Kanawha passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in Pella. Visitation for Margery Betten will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street, in Kanawha with graveside services at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha following visitation.

Margery Betten was born on July 22, 1921 at George, Iowa. She was the youngest of five children that were born to Earl and Tena (Hilbrands) Harms. Margery graduated from Sibley High School in Sibley, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Daryl Betten on September 18, 1945 in Sibley, Iowa. To this union five children were born: Thomas Lee, Terry Lynn, Sally Ann, Susan Beth and Douglas James. They lived in Sibley and later moved to Kanawha, Iowa where she worked 23 years for Dr. R.S. Bonnstetter as a dental assistant and later worked for seven years at Bloemke Pharmacy. Daryl passed away in July of 1980 and left a void for Margery.

She became active in the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as president from 1987 to 1992. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Kanawha. Margery was active in her children’s lives serving as a leader for Brownies, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. She also volunteered at the hospital in Mason City, Iowa, achieving 500-hour recognition for her service.

In 2004, Margery moved to Pella, where she continued to volunteer at The Work of Our Hands and at the Pella Regional Health Center until her health declined. She became a resident of Hearthstone, where she transitioned through their care continuum.

Margery passed away peacefully at the Cottages on September 21, 2016 at the advanced age of 95 years. Those left to honor her memory are her five children and spouses: Tom Betten and Janet Flaherty of The Villages, FL; Terry Lutz of Welcome, MN; Sally and Ross Dale of Pella, IA; Sue and David Smith of Altoona, IA; Doug Betten and Denise Chirpich of San Francisco, CA; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Daryl, her parents, 3 sisters, Jennie Modder, Earlene Asmus, Tena Wibben, and two brothers, Wesley and Abe Harms. She will be remembered for her dedication to her children and their families.