Betty Lingren

Services for Betty Jean Lingren were held Nov. 22 at the Pilot Mound United Methodist Church, with visitation there Nov. 21.

Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson was in charge of arrangements.

The Rev. Phillip Berger officiated the service. Honorary casket bearers were Stan Jones, Gene Crouch, Rich Larson and Steve Smith. Casket bearers were Alan Lingren, Darrell Lingren, Tom Good, Randy Good, Deck Crouch and Sean Whalen.

Musicians were Cheryl Lingren, Allison McGuire and Carol Shivers. Songs chosen were “There is a Savior,” “The Lord’s Prayer” and “I’ll Be Seeing You.” 

Interment took place at Lawn Cemetery in Boxholm. 

Betty Jean Lingren, daughter of Marion Merkle Wirtz and Mildred Violet Williams Wirtz, was born Feb. 17, 1926, in Boone County and died Nov. 18 at the Israel Hospice House in Ames at the age of 93. 

She attended and graduated from the Jordan Consolidated School in 1943. She then attended the Boone Junior College for one year. 

During World War II, Betty worked for 18 months in the Signal Corps of the War Department in Washington, D.C., translating code from the Pacific. 

From December of 1945 until April of 1947, Betty worked as secretary to the superintendent of Jordan Consolidated School. 

On Nov. 8, 1946, Betty was united in marriage with Earl Floyd Lingren at the Prairie Center Church north of Jordan. To this union, five children were born: Steven, Stanley, Melinda, Machelle and Lorna.

After their marriage, the couple lived in Betty’s Grandma Williams’ apartment in Boone, later moving to their own apartment. In 1948, they moved north of Boone to start farming, and moved to rural Pilot Mound in 1953. In 1969, they moved to their present farm, and in 1996, the couple built their retirement home on the farm, though they never really retired. 

Two years ago, Betty moved to the Grand View Care Center in Dayton. Betty was a member of the Pilot Mound United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was awarded the Honorary State 4-H Member Award in 1988, and she, Earl and Stanley were honored as Master Pork Producers in 1994. 

Betty was also a 4-H leader and Sunday School teacher for many years.

In 1983, Betty, Earl and their sons were given the Meritorious Service to 4-H Award. 

Betty worked side-by-side with Earl on the farm as well as caring for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also maintained all of the bookwork for the farms and livestock. 

She proved to be a wonderful role model, having always been a guiding hand in the lives of her grandchildren. Her pride and joy were her grandchildren and she didn’t miss an opportunity to brag about them. 

Her hobbies included baking pies, overseeing the grandchildren’s 4-H projects, sewing, flower gardening and canning vegetables from her numerous gardens. 

Betty was preceded in death by husband, Earl, on Nov. 21, 2008; her father, Marion, in 1975; her mother, Mildred, on Jan. 14, 2000; a daughter, Machelle Peggy, in infancy; her brother, Bill Wirtz; sisters Ruth Swanson and Kay Richards; and her brother-in-law, Kenny Richards.

She is survived by two sons: Steven (Chris) Lingren, of Ogden, and Stan (Cheryl) Lingren, of Pilot Mound; two daughters: Melinda (Tom) Heater, of Jefferson, and Lorna (Rob) Scott, of Pilot Mound; 16 grandchildren:  Jenifer (Brent) Badger, of Bagley; Jessica Savits (Mark Hamilton), of Jefferson; Jessica Bruere (Jason Lemmert), of Bondurant; Nicole (Jay) Shearer, of Bettendorf; Rick Geisler (Kelly McElwee), of Sheridan, Wyo.; Emily (Ben) Shivers, of Bondurant; Brooke (Dana) Vote, of Denton, Neb.; Allison (Andy) McGuire, of Oskaloosa; Alexa (Tyler) Pickering, of Kansas City; and Bryce, Aaliyah, Vanessa, Ebony, Viatris, Kaleb and Nate Scott, all of Pilot Mound. 

She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren: Kamden, Abigail, Brock and Elise Badger; Ty and Lily Shearer; Briana Bruere, Tinley and Sutton Vote; and Brody Shivers; two sisters: Joan McDonald and Judy (Gary) Calsyn; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Memorials in her name may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home, Box 204, Perry, IA 50220.