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Betty Jean Reichardt departed this life on Thursday evening, October 9, 2014, at the Clearview Home in Clearfield, IA, surrounded by family and entered her promised home at the age of 87 years.
A Service in Celebration of her Life will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 701 7th Street, Corning, IA; with Larry Johnson officiating. Interment will be held at the Victoria Cemetery, 3 ¼ miles south of Massena on Hwy 148. Open visitation will be 1-8 pm, and family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Monday, October 13, at the Funeral Home. Memorial Contributions may be directed to Hospice of Southwest Iowa, United Methodist Church of Grant, IA; American Diabetes Association and American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be left at www.personfuneralhomes.com.
She was born in Noble Township, Cass County, Iowa, at the family farm five miles NE of Grant near Adams-Montgomery County line. She was the third child and first daughter born to Edith L. (Ator) and Edward Dorsey Mapel Weeks.
“Dee-Dee” as she was nicknamed grew up in a family of fourteen and being the oldest girl was somewhat of a “mother” image to her siblings. The family was very close having yearly well-attended family reunions. As a young girl she recalled having her special cow to milk and later she liked helping her father in the bee yard often capturing swarms of bees in his absence. She had a love for horses. She loved to be in the outdoors working in her yard tending to her flower garden.
Her elementary education was in Adams County — at Hazel Grove in Lincoln Township just west of Lincoln Center and Rock Dale in Douglas Township south of the Strand church. Being a 1945 graduate of Corning High School and a Red Raiders fan, she was proud to have had a part in compiling the “Book of Memories” for their 50th anniversary.
She was a member of the Roseann Auxiliary, the IPERS association and served on the Adams County Sesquicentennial Commission. First Baptist was her chosen faith and she was a member of the Baptist Evening Circle until the church closed.
Upon graduation, Betty was employed by the State Department of Social Welfare under the merit system and later at the Adams County Treasurer’s office serving as clerk, deputy and assistant treasurer. She was given recognition for her 35 years of service upon retirement in 1991.
On September 7, 1946, she and Donald Frank Reichardt were united in marriage at Creston, Union County, Iowa. Their three-day honeymoon was spent at the Bacon Hotel at Davis and 6th Street in Corning. They were blessed with five children. Their love for each other remained steadfast through 48 years of togetherness.
A content person, the simple things were what Betty enjoyed most — being loved by her good neighbors and friends, taking pride in her home and work, helping someone in need. She treasured being surrounded by her family. Material things were never a priority and she harbored no jealousy and always forgiving. Country music was a favorite pastime. She liked doing embroidery work and sharing with others. Gooseberry pie and potato soup were her family specialties. She and her husband enjoyed several bus tours, one to the worlds fair in 1974. Her home was adorned with cardinal bird ornaments and bees.
After the loss of her three closest friends, Marguerite Campbell, Maxine Mercer and Muriel Phillips, she carried on but not without a void. Often reminiscing of how Muriel liked her custard, their Sunday afternoon rides in the country; of she and Marguerite gathering wild plums and berries and making divinity; and Maxine and her making grape jam and their many outings. They all enjoyed dining out and shopping. She visited their graves often with decorations.
Preceding her to eternal rest were her: husband Donnie in 1994, infant son Roger in 1949, daughter Karla Lyne Detty in 2011, mother Edith Weeks in 1985, father Ed Weeks in 1997, father-in-law Lloyd Reichardt in 1971, brothers Gerald Weeks in 1970, Wayne Weeks in 2006, and Max Weeks in 2010, sisters Nola Joan Strait in 1990 and Shirley Christensen in 1996, grandson Mark Lyne in 1999, son-in-law Russell Patrick Detty in 2014, sisters-in-law Gertrude Reichardt in 1991, Dorothy Reichardt Grimminger in 1995, Bernadine Reichardt Campbell in 2001, Dorothy Weeks in 2002, and Carole Weeks Bonsall in 2005, brothers-in-law Boyd Reichardt in 1958, Ray Keefe in 1971, Jim Grimminger in 1998, and Laverne Strait in 2014.
Those left to cherish her smile and memory are her: son Dennis and Betsy Reichardt of Corning, daughters Brenda Frank and Lana Reichardt of Omaha, NE, brothers Jack and Pat Weeks of Rowland Heights, CA, Bernard and Carolyn Weeks of Independence, MO, and Ernie Weeks of Choctaw, Ok. sisters Edna and Jerry Walker of Corning, Mildred and Don Leach of Lincoln, NE, Beverly Weber of Santa Clarita, CA, Linda and Jon Pierce of Lincoln, NE, Judy and Tom Counterman of Coarsegold, CA, sister-in-law Ramona (Max) Weeks of Creston, IA, brothers-in-law: Bill (Shirley) Christensen of Des Moines and Joe (Bernadine) Campbell of Hemet, CA, grandchildren Kara Lyne Brister and husband Raymond of Sioux City, IA, Brad Lyne (Kyla Chocholousek) of Lincoln, NE, Tacha Lyne Stuart (Kris Wagoner) of Lincoln, NE, Donald Zach Detty (Melissa Bailey) of Lincoln, NE, Dana Frank Brannon and husband Steve of Omaha, NE, Ryan Frank of Ankeny, IA.
Also her precious great and great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews each being so very special to her.
Even her former in-laws: Jeanne Weeks of Glendora, CA and Marianne Weeks of Oklahoma, OK; Doug Swinehart of Camarillo, CA; Kregg Frank of Lakeview, IA; and John Lyne of Lincoln, NE, all whom she considered her friends.
Betty’s life was a special gift to her family and she was concerned for their welfare to the very end. To those who knew her best, she will be a happy memory and will live in their hearts — a place no other can fill.
To My Children:
I will always be with you — in the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, in the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered clothes, in the cool hand on your brow when you are not well. I will live inside your laughter and in every teardrop. I am the place you came from--your first home and I am the map you follow with every step you take. I am your first love and nothing on earth can separate us—not time, not space or even death.