Betty Thompson

Betty Jane Armentrout Thompson, 86, of Anita, Iowa, and formerly of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday, August 3, 2009, at Colonial Manor in Anita.

Betty Jane Randall was born December 13, 1922, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of Vernon Herbert and Anna Regina (Kollekowski) Randall. She was a resident of Cass County her entire life, living in Atlantic and Anita. Betty attended Atlantic Schools, graduating from Atlantic High School in 1940.

On April 23, 1945, she was united in marriage to Wilbur A. Armentrout. Three sons, David, Dwight and Douglas, were born to this union.
Betty had a strong work ethic, which she instilled in her sons. Her first job was at Earl Beach's Grocery Store. When she wasn't working on the farm with Wilbur, other jobs included working at the Anita Café, the Heritage House, Dave's Greenhouse, O.K. Hardware, Brink's Floral Shop, Spurgeon's and the Greyhound Bus terminal.
Wilbur passed away March 18, 1972. On April 21, 1975, Betty was united in marriage to Gerald Thompson.
Betty was an independent woman with a great sense of humor and strong faith in the Lord. One of her favorite pastimes was gardening. When she wasn't working in her own garden, she could be found helping with the gardening at Dave's greenhouse.

Betty was a member of the Atlantic United Church of Christ, UCC Women's Circle, the Anita Garden Club and the Atlantic American Legion Auxiliary. She was also active with Cass County 4-H and the Cass County Fair Board.

Betty is survived by her sons, Dwight Armentrout (Scott Schmidt) of Cathedral City, CA and Douglas (Paige) Armentrout of Woodinville, WA; her grandchildren, Erick Armentrout of Seattle, WA, Tyler Armentrout of Belleview, WA, Emery and Wilbur Armentrout of Woodinville, WA, Sara Lane and Desmond Armentrout of Atlantic, IA; her brother, Jack Randall of Atlantic, IA; her step-grandchildren, Joel Cameron and his wife, Susie and Tony Cameron and wife, April all of Atlantic, IA, and Shannon Zenk and her husband, Rob of Lemars, IA; daughter-in-law, Marsha Armentrout of LeMars, IA; nephew, Scott Randall of Thornton, Colorado, step-daughters, Teresa Mann of Johnston, IA, and Delana Lawrence of Anita, IA; cousin, Floyd Williams of Atlantic, IA; many relatives from the Armentrout family of the Harlan, IA area; and other relatives and numerous friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Anna Randall; her husband, Wilbur Armentrout; her son, David Armentrout; her ex-husband, Gerald Thompson; her brothers, Vernee and John Randall; her sister in infancy; her step-grandson, Tracy Cameron; and her step-granddaughter, Amy Beach.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 6, 2009, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa.

Visitation with family will be Wednesday, August 5, 2009, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry's in Atlantic.