Obituary of Betty Lou Nelson

Betty Lou (Makis) Nelson, passed away on April 28, 2010, at the age of 96, at the Newton Healthcare Center in Newton, IA. She had resided there since July of 2002. Upon returning from the Newton Skiff Hospital recently, she was under the care of Hospice of Jasper County until the time of her death. Betty was born on September 27, 1913 in Chicago, IL where her parents lived at the time. Later they moved to Lakota, IA and finally to Ida Grove, IA. Betty married Bernie Nelson on February 24, 1934 at the home of her parents in Ida Grove. The first years of their marriage Betty and Bernie and family lived in Newton. Then in 1945, they moved to the Newburg and Gilman area where they resided until 1955, when they moved back to Newton. At the time of Bernie's death in 1975, they shared a home with son, Delmar, and family at Kellogg. Three children were born to Betty and Bernie; Erma, Gordon, and Delmar. Bernie's occupation was a carpenter and trucker. Betty was a full time homemaker until the family moved back to Newton in 1955. At that time Betty went to work at Skiff Hospital in the housekeeping department. She then decided to study towards an LPN degree, which she achieved. For a number of years, she worked at several nursing homes and caring for patients in their own homes. Upon retiring, Betty became active in the Newton branch of Navy Mothers Club because son, Gordon and his daughter, Kimberly are both veterans of the U.S. Navy. She was also active in the Senior Citizens group for fellowship and volunteering in various projects. Betty's special joys in life were her family, sewing, gardening along with Bernie, attending church, traveling in her later years, and country and gospel music. Betty is survived by her three children: Erma Roseland and husband, Dale, of Gilman, Gordon and wife, Allene, of Newton and Delmar and wife, Fern, of Kellogg; eleven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Also, surviving is one sister, Mrs. Ann Chozen of Spirit Lake, IA. Preceding Betty in death were her husband, Bernie, in 1975, grandson, Andy Buckles, in 2002, great grandson, Scott Nelson, in 1985, her brothers, John and Paul, sister, Bessie Wiese, brothers-in-law, Sylven Chozen and Elmer Wiese, a sister-in-law, Alva Makis, and her parents, John and Anna Makis. Calling hours will be Monday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home, 310 N. 2nd Ave. E., Newton, IA. The funeral will be Monday at 10:30 at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home, 310 N. 2nd Ave. E., Newton. Burial will be in Newton Union Cemetery, Newton on at . Memorials may be made to Hospice of Jasper County