Betty Louise Harris was born to Ward G. and Alta L. (Mayer) Harris on July 19, 1928, in Earling, Iowa at the farm home of her maternal aunt Eva and Forrest (Denny) Densmore, the oldest of five children. Betty grew up in Harlan and attended Harlan High School. She excelled in English and Latin and was interested in history and science. In later life, she studied both cosmetology and nursing. She grew up in the Great Depression and always remembered the hardships that time brought. Betty had a lifelong interest in the study of vitamins and nutrition, alternative medicine as well as organic foods, long before the trends of the past several years. Any visitor might leave the house with 1000 mg of vitamin C to cure what ailed them. Mother had a remarkable memory and an extensive vocabulary. She was very knowledgeable of the Bible and loved to read and study the Word. She was interested in politics and policy and always had a cautionary word regarding the government. Betty loved animals and would make certain every dog she encountered had plenty of water. She had a distinctive laugh and sense of humor and loved a good joke or humorous story, especially involving characters she knew. She instilled in her children a sense of kindness and compassion for those less fortunate or marginalized in some way. She was quick to help, the first to defend and lived by the mantra of "don't mess with my pups". She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took great joy in their accomplishments. Although life sometimes dealt interesting twists, Betty was a survivor and carried on. In her own way, she taught each of us life lessons that we will not forget and we are grateful for. She was loved. She will be dearly missed. In addition to her six children, twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren, Betty is survived by two siblings: Ward Harris of Osage, and Judy (Mike) Kiepke of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, sister Bonnie (Herman) Hoffman, infant brother Jaime Harris, sister-in-law Carmen Harris, and nephews Bill Larson and Jon Harris. Family: Rod (Nancy) Lindstrom – Moline, Illinois Crystal (Jeff) Maring Madison, Max Brandi (Randy) Psenicka Zeke, Ollie Marydale (Michael) Steigleder – Omaha, Nebraska Andrew (Allison) Steigleder Drew, Luke, Valerie, Evan Stephanie (Jason) Shearer Beckett, Callen Zachary Steigleder Tommy Steigleder Elizabeth (Paul) Vande Kieft - Pella Kyler Vande Kieft Griffin Vande Kieft Dirk (Rachel) Rietveld - Pella Anna Rietveld Joseph (Shayla) Rietveld Hayden, Owen Amy Silk - Pella Jacob Silk Alexis Silk Dan Rietveld - Malibu, California

Private Funeral Service

Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Garden Chapel Funeral Home Pella, Iowa

Memorials

Hospice of Pella There will be no visitation per the family's wishes.