Dorothy May Betts

Dorothy May Betts, the daughter of John Edward and Ethel Delle (Farnham) Siemsen was born April 14, 1924, at her parent’s home in Cameron Township north of Audubon, Iowa and died January 25, 2014, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 9 months, and 11 days. Dorothy was baptized in the Methodist Church. She attended rural school at Cameron Township #9 and then attended Audubon High School graduating with the High School Class of 1942. She then helped on the family farm and was employed at Carlson Seed Company in Audubon for a short time. On February 27, 1944, she was united in marriage to Bryan Betts at the Methodist Church in Glidden, Iowa. Three children: Philip, Kathy, and Linda were born to this union. She was a homemaker for many years caring for her family. In 1963, she was employed as the assistant cook at the Viola Community School until it closed. She then was employed as the head cook for the Gray Consolidated Schools in Gray, Iowa for several years until she retired. Dorothy was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. She was an avid bowler and bowled in many bowling leagues. She always had a large vegetable and flower garden. Dorothy and Bryan loved to go square dancing and were involved in many card clubs in the area. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, and making ceramic pieces for her family and friends. But most of all she loved spending time with her family and baking cookies for her grandchildren. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers: John Siemsen and Charles Siemsen; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Bea Siemsen; Nellie and husband LaVerne Farley; Bessie and husband Laurence Nielsen; Doris and husband Bob Booten; her brothers-in-law: Melvin Betts and Duane Herron; and her sister-in-law Opal and husband Junior Shoaf. Survivors include her husband Bryan Betts of Audubon, Iowa; her children: Philip and wife Olena Betts of Audubon, Iowa; Kathy and husband Darwin Shoesmith of Marion, Iowa; Linda and husband James Johnson of Oregon City, Oregon; her grandchildren: Kimberly and husband Jim Goecke of Audubon, Iowa; Kristie and husband Robert Nielsen of Hamlin, Iowa; Kevin Betts and fiancé Melisa of Littleton, Colorado; Keith Shoesmith of Walker, Iowa; Karessa and husband Brian Ollinger of Robins, Iowa; Marni and husband Dustin Bramstedt of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Wendy and husband Eric Skibba of Tigard, Oregon; Aaron Johnson of Beaverton, Oregon; 13 great grandchildren; her sister Grace Betts of Omaha, Nebraska; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Dorlee Siemsen of Audubon, Iowa; Mildred Herron of Bayard, Iowa; Darlene and husband Dale George of Coon Rapids, Iowa; Cleo and wife Kae Betts of Elk Hart, Indiana; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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

Service:
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 30, 2014, at 10:30 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.