Elizabeth Gunion

Elizabeth Gunion

Elizabeth “Betty” Gunion, 88, of Grand Junction, passed away early the morning of Aug. 19 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. 

A celebration of life was held Aug. 24 at the Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, with words of comfort by Pastor Jim Barnett, of Jefferson.

Music was provided by pianist Danille Curtis. 

Honorary bearers were Todd Busch, Woody DeForest, Tom Butler, Scott Butler, Lawrence Rold and Harold Osterman.

Interment was in the Dawson Twp. Cemetery, Paton.

Following the committal service at the cemetery, the family hosted afternoon lunch and fellowship at 209 Main in Paton.

Betty was born Sept. 3, 1930, in Grand Junction, the oldest child of Henry and Lena Busch. She was joined by a brother, Bob, seven years later.  

Betty graduated from high school in Dana in 1948 and was asked to work for the bank in Dana. The summer before she graduated, she met her future husband, Vernon Gunion.  They married on Jan. 1, 1950, and moved a quarter-mile down the road from where Betty grew up.

They liked to roller skate, play cards and watch basketball together.

When Betty had her first child, she stopped working at the bank to focus on her family. Vernon and Betty raised four children together: Mark, Doug, Beth and Lisa.

During these years, Betty was president of the Garden Club, treasurer of the PTO, taught Vacation Bible School and spent countless hours working on 4-H projects with her daughters and serving her community.

Betty and Vernon spent their lives working together on their farm and instilling their work ethic into their kids. She was a great cook, baker, gardener, farmer, and above all else, mother.

When Vernon died in 2016, after 66 years of marriage, Betty moved to Marion to live with her daughter, Beth.  

Betty will be lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses: Dr. Mark Gunion, of Bremerton, Wash.; Doug and Carleen Gunion, of Boone; Beth and Alan Tribble, of Marion; and Lisa Gunion-Rinker and Matt Rinker, of Milwaukie, Ore.; four grandchildren: Scott Gunion, Melissa Gunion, Matt Tribble and Daniel Tribble; and great-grandson Brayden Gunion.

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Address: 200 N. Wilson St.
Jefferson, IA 50129

Phone:(515) 386-4161