JoAnn Ruth Betten
July 7, 1928 ~ July 23, 2024
JoAnn Ruth Larson Betten
From: New Hampton, Iowa
JoAnn Ruth Larson Betten died July 23, 2024 at New Hampton, Iowa with her family by her side.
Celebration of Life Service: Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 223 S. Water Ave., New Hampton, Iowa. JoAnn’s Celebration of Life of Service will begin at 11am.
The family has requested no flowers. On behalf of JoAnn’s wishes a donation made payable to the General Fund, Trinity Lutheran Church, be sent to: Trinity Lutheran Church, 223 S. Water, New Hampton, IA or a charity of your choice.
IN LIFE: JoAnn Larson Betten was born July 7,1928 at Wright County, Belmond Township to parents Joe and Ruth Larson. JoAnn was the youngest of six children. During high school JoAnn was a cheerleader, participate in band as a trombone player and was class president. After high school JoAnn attended teacher’s training which allowed her to teach in the rural school system.
JoAnn Larson married Kerny (C.H.) Betten on Feb. 25, 1948 at Kanawha, Iowa. Together they farmed and raised their family in Hancock County. JoAnn and Kerny were active in the Christian Reform Church, Kanawha, Iowa where JoAnn was the church choir director.
In 1958, Kerny and JoAnn purchased a farm in Jacksonville Township, New Hampton, Iowa. While in New Hampton, JoAnn worked as an egg sorter at a local Egg company, she also was the local Avon distributor. Later JoAnn began teaching in the New Hampton Elementary School system, New Hampton, IA. JoAnn elected to improve her teaching degree and began attending Upper Iowa University. In 1969, JoAnn earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in education. JoAnn continued to teach kindergarten and also 3rd grade at the New Hampton Elementary School System. JoAnn influencing many children over the 23 years of teaching.
The Betten family was active in 4-H. The Betten family was awarded the Chickasaw County 4-H Family of the Year Award.
When JoAnn retired from teaching and Kerny semi-retired from farming, they enjoyed a new chapter of their lives together which allowed them to travel with their RV throughout the United States to visit family and friends. It was important to JoAnn and Kerny to attend as many family weddings, family gathering, family HS and College graduations. JoAnn and Kerny believed “the family” was the cornerstone. They enjoyed their annual camping and fishing trip to Leech Lake and also to Northern Ontario Canada with family and friends. There were many memories of fishing which involved the red Lund boat known as “the Betten Bardge”. JoAnn and Kerny enjoyed spending their winters in Mesa, Az. at The Resort with their “Az friends”. While in Az., JoAnn participated in ladies’ softball, choir and meladramma’s. JoAnn enjoyed going to all the various gatherings and various activities.
In 2008 Kerny and JoAnn celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary in Az. In 2009, Kerny passed away in Az. JoAnn met Carmen Miller from Cortez, Colorado and at the age of 82 and 83, JoAnn and Carmen married in 2010. They enjoyed a life together for 12 years.
Survivors: Children: son, Roger Betten, (Anna) Betten, CA., son, Douglas Betten (deceased) (Trish), WA, daughter, Jody (Rick) Dosser, IA. Grandchildren: Amanda Betten, CA., Brenda Betten (James), CA., Nick Betten, CA., Renae Betten, CA., Rodney Betten (Lihn), WA., and Shelley (Doug) Sedgwick, Ia. Great Grandchildren: Elizabeth and Ethan Betten, CA., Sophie and Ian Sedgwick, Ia., Sister-in-Law: Lela (Harm) Freesmann, IA, plus many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding JoAnn in death: Parents: Joe and Ruth Larson, husband C.H. (Kerny) Betten, and husband Carmen Miller. Siblings: Marion (Didio) Ernst, Russell Larson, Lowell Larson, Doris Shear, Clarice Yarger, Son: Douglas Betten, Grandson: Jermiah Dosser.
JoAnn’s ashes will be placed alongside C.H. (Kerny) at the Amsterdam Township Cemetery, Kanawha, Iowa. There will not be a gravesite ceremony.
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My deepest sympathy to Joann’s family.
Sending prayers to her family. She was a neighbor to my mom, Coletta Geerts at Kensington. May her memories be yours today. Jeanne and David Roder
My sympathies to the family of a very special lady. Rest in peace Mrs. Betten.
Our sympathy to the family. JoAnn was a special lady and will be missed.
I always enjoyed visiting with JoAnn at Kensington and when she came to MercyOne. My first memory of her was about 6-7 years ago when I visited Kensington on a Friday afternoon when someone was playing the piano. Joann and I got up and danced. She was so graceful! My prayers are for her family.
Please accept our sympathy. She was my first teacher and made school a fun experience. A lot of fond memories.
The whole family is very special to me. From 4-H and FFA and coon hunting and a special fishing trip in Canada. The memories are forever.
Sympathy to JoAnn’s family and friends!! I enjoyed many years teaching with her in New Hampton!! When she moved to third grade, her room was right across the hall from me!! At recess time we trotted down to the lounge for a break! We were good friends for many years. 😊
My heart is heavy to know the matriarch of the Betten family has passed, but now reunited with Kerny. Rest in Peace sweet JoAnn!
Jan
Many great memories of the Betten family, from wrestling to teaching with your mom. Thoughts and prayers are with the family.
On behalf of Jody’s Class of 1969, our heartfelt condolences to the family.
Our deepest sympathies to all of
JoAnn’s Family!! Both of our children were fortunate to have JoAnn as their elementary teacher!!
She was a wonderful teacher and, so kind and thoughtful!! 💕🌷💕
In Christ, Matt
Hugs to you all,
Kendra (Crooks) Walker
My deepest sympathy to JoAnn’s family. I enjoyed my visits with JoAnn in the assisted living. She was such a nice lady.
Our condolences and prayers to JoAnn’s family.
Played countless hours of dominoes and black jack with grandma and grandpa. We gambled with pennys. 👍
Lots of fishing trips to Red Lake and I remember as a kid grandma having a Folgers Coffee can with a roll of toilet paper in it in the boat because if you had “to go” you were going to over the boat.
Farmers Markets were common stops for grandpa and grandma especially since grandma was not the “pie baking type” and grandpa loved his sweets.
Traveling to STARKS in Prairie Du Chein was common to get boxed wine for happy hour and she would pull out the cheese and grapes and crackers to go with her wine and 7-Up while watching Wheel of Fortune.
It was common for grandma to put up little hand written notes to remind them to “turn off the lights” in their SHED HOME. They were the “pioneers” of the SHED HOME many years ago. 👍
Fish fry’s were the best with grandma and grandpa. Grandma knew what good fish was, so she refused to eat it at assisted living since she was spoiled having had halibut from Alaska and walleye from Canada.
These are just some random thoughts of grandma that popped in my head this morning that I felt like sharing.
She was one of my favorite elementary school teachers. Rest in peace Mrs. Betten
My deepest sympathy to her family
My deepest sympathy. Tom and I got to know Bettens at The Resort. All of us were Iowans, Tom and I spending summers in Nora Springs, IA. After Kerney died, Joann brought her friend, Carmen, to visit us in IA one summer maybe “to get our blessing”. We attended their wedding and enjoyed watching them as a couple.
Joann was a lovely Christian person and it was a joy to be her friend.
I met JoAnn two different times when she came to Mesa to spend time with her daughter, Jody. She was the type of person you felt like you had known all your life as she would sit and talk to all of Jody’s tennis friends who had come to meet her, always having a smile on her face. JoAnn was one of the most gracious ladies I have ever met. I know she will be missed by all who knew her.
Deepest condolences to the entire Betten family. She was a very kind teacher.
Our sincere sympathy to Jody and all of the family. We first met JoAnn after she got to know Carmen and they were married. She was such a wonderful, energetic lady and so personable. We enjoyed our visits together in Arizona and Iowa. We will miss her phone calls. Prayers for the family.