Betty Bishop

Betty Bishop, 87, of Jefferson, Iowa passed away peacefully on Friday, November 22, 2013, at the Greene County Medical Center surrounded by loved ones.  
Betty was the daughter of Walter and Irene Wright and was born on August 16, 1926.  She is one of seven children born to this union.
In 1944, Betty was united in marriage to Jack Bishop in Jefferson, IA.  They were the proud parents of six children, grandparents to twenty grandchildren, and great-grandparents to thirty four.
Betty lived on a farm with her husband and six children.  She was a Homemaker and she did multiple things to help out on the farm. Betty always drove the tractor and hay bailer during the summer, hauled in corn during the fall, and she plowed and did whatever needed to be done in the field. She sold eggs from all of the many chickens that were raised on the farm and they sold for 35 cents a dozen with many regular customers that came out frequently. Every spring they would get around 500 baby chicks from McMurray Hatchery in Webster City, IA. From this coop they would get both eggs and meat.  Betty raised huge flower, vegetable, and fruit gardens and even sold produce to the local grocery store. She also did lots of canning and made jams and jellies, enough to feed her family for the entire year. In later years she worked at Deal’s Apple Orchard in the fall sorting apples and cleaned offices at NC+.
In the winter months, Betty loved to crochet beautiful doilies for all of her family. She was a faithful member of Gospel Open Bible Church in Jefferson for many years and even sang in the choir. Betty also enjoyed watching and listening to the Gaither Vocal Band. She loved to bake delicious goodies and having her family over for visits. Betty loved to spoil her grandchildren and babysat them often, starting with baby Dean.
Betty is survived by her children: daughter Sandra (Larry) Chuning of Fountain, CO; son Donald (Nancy) Bishop of Jefferson, IA; daughter Julie (Ron) Vickers of Grand Junction, IA; daughter Jean (Dave) Vickers of Grand Junction, IA; son Gary (Ellen) Bishop of Jefferson, IA; sister: Julia McCollom of Jefferson, IA; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by parents: Walter and Irene Wright; her husband Jack; brothers: Walt Wright, Max Wright; sisters: Charlotte Miner, Ellen Godwin, Joanne Bose; son: Dennis Bishop; and great-granddaughter Baby Grace.
Funeral services were held Monday, November 25, 2013 at 10:00am at the Gospel Open Bible Church in Jefferson. Interment was at the Junction Township Cemetery in Grand Junction, Iowa following the service. Memorials may be given to the Gospel Open Bible Church in memory of Betty Bishop.
Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson was in charge of arrangements.