Betty Jean (Duvall) Neyenhuis

Betty Jean Neyenhuis, the daughter of Dolliver and Pearl (Ruhs) Dawson, was born March 1, 1924, at her parents’ home Melville Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died January 28, 2014, at her home in Audubon, Iowa, at the age of 89 years, 10 months, and 27 days. Betty and her family were baptized at the Westover Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended rural school in Melville Township then graduated from the Viola Consolidated Schools in Viola with the High School Class of 1942. On April 18, 1943, she was united in marriage to Darrell Glen Duvall at the Mt. Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church in Viola. They farmed near Viola, Iowa for many years. In 1977, they started D&B Construction which they operated they retired in 1984. Darrell died May 31, 2002. On June 22, 2004, she was united in marriage to Henry Neyenhuis in Audubon, Iowa. Betty and Henry enjoyed traveling. They were members of the Audubon Campers Club and enjoyed their camper and fishing. Henry died May 28, 2013. Betty remained living in her home with the assistance of her daughter Nancy and her granddaughter Margo. Betty was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Brayton, Iowa. She enjoyed her flowers and her garden. She was a babysitter for other families and her grandchildren. She enjoyed entertaining her family and friends and never knew a stranger. Betty loved to watch the birds and the children play at the school playground. She was well known for her homemade noodles, popcorn balls, dilly bread, and her homemade buns. Betty had a strong Christian faith and was a Godly woman. Her faith was a testament to her family and friends.      Betty was preceded in death by her husbands: Darrell Duvall and Henry Neyenhuis; her parents; her brother-in-law: Sievert Stone; her infant niece Marsha Jane Dawson and infant nephew Tommy Lee Dawson; her nephews Tim Dawson and Myron Seastrom; her infant great nephew Charles K. Hartman, III; Darrell’s brothers and sisters; LaVern and wife Dorothy Duvall; Ruby and husband Walter Williams; Duane and wife Norma Duvall; her nephews Dwight Duvall; Richard Duvall; Bob Williams; Larry Anderson; Phillip Duvall; her great niece Cherie Duvall; her step-son; Chet Thomas; her step daughter-in-law Geraldine King; Henry’s brothers and sisters Albert Neyenhuis; Andrew and wife Helen Neyenhuis; Gertie and husband Windle Kaufman; and Christina Enkhorn; and her brother-in-law Edward “Buzz” Hosetter.      Survivors include her children: David and wife Sue Duvall and Nancy Petersen all of Audubon, Iowa; her grandchildren: Tonya and husband Ryan Berkland of Emmetsburg, Iowa; Margo Wolfe of Atlantic, Iowa; Amanda Griswold and special friend Victor Martinez of Hastings, Nebraska; her great grandchildren: Emily Berkland and Abby Berkland both of Emmetsburg; Derrick Wolfe of Atlantic; Haley Griswold and Zach Griswold both of Hastings; her brother and sisters: Melva Stone of Audubon; John and wife Margie Dawson of Waukee, Iowa; Biroda and husband Marvin Seastrom of Audubon; her brother-in-law; Lois Neyenhuis of Valier, Montana; her sister-in-law Jennie Hosetter of Dalier, Montana; her step-son: Dan Neyenhuis and spouse and son all of the Dominican Republic; her step-son; Dr. James and wife Carol Knight of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa her step-grandchildren: Allison Hagmann of McKinley Ville, California; Susan Pederson of Crescent City, California; Judy Thomas of Crescent City; John Thomas of Arcata, California; David and wife Yiren Thomas of Andover, Massachusetts; Jennifer and husband Ben Hunter of Omaha; Janice and husband Bob Parham of Duluth, Minnesota; Dr. James and wife Barb Knight of Cedar Rapids, Iowa;  John Knight of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Gordon Knight of Goldsboro, North Carolina; Joan and husband Kevin Wagler of Mt. Pleasant; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be Saturday, February 1, 2014, at 10:30 A.M. at the First Baptist Church in Brayton, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Friday evening from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.