Betty Jean Holtz
March 14, 1932 — March 23, 2020
Betty Jean Holtz, the daughter of Walter and Henrietta (Ingwers) Scheel, was born on her family farm east of Corley on March 14, 1932. She attended Fairview No. 1 country school and graduated from Harlan High School in 1949. Following high school, Betty worked for a lawyer’s office. She met the love of her life, Delno “Bud” Holtz, while at the Corley dance hall for a dance. They married on October 24, 1953 at the First Lutheran Church in Avoca. They made their first home in a two-room apartment in Avoca for two and a half years. On March 1, 1956 they started farming on the Chris Miller farm south of Avoca. In 1959, Betty and Bud moved northeast of Avoca where they resided for 24 years. Betty and Bud were blessed with three children: Jean, Keith, and Connie.
Betty drove tractor on the farm when needed, also helping work in the field and carry items around from place to place. They raised corn, beans, and hay. They also had a Grade B dairy herd, feeder calves, sheep, rabbits, broilers, laying hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea hens, and many, many pigs. In 1979, Betty started working as a cook for the Avoca Nursing Home. Following Bud’s retirement in 1983, they moved to town. Betty continued to work as a cook for the nursing home until the mid 90s when she retired. That is when she could focus on what she loved to do, but didn’t have time for while she was working: sewing, gardening, quilting, fishing, and cooking for her family. Her specialty was knowing how to make bland food tastier; “Just add a bit of salt”. There wasn’t anything that Betty wouldn’t take on. She enjoyed going on extended bus tours and spending time with her family.
On Monday, March 23, 2020, Betty passed away at Avoca Specialty Care attaining the age of eighty-eight years and nine days. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bud; son-in-law Dean Klein; and sisters Arlene Buck and Marilyn Nielsen. Those left to cherish her memory include her children Jean and her husband Michael Kenkel of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Keith Holtz and his wife Nancy of Avoca; and Connie Klein of Panama, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother Robert Scheel and his wife Donna of Jacksonville, Iowa; sister Carolyn and her husband Tom Morris of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Lying In State:
*Per CDC regulations no more than 10 visitors are allowed at one time.
Betty drove tractor on the farm when needed, also helping work in the field and carry items around from place to place. They raised corn, beans, and hay. They also had a Grade B dairy herd, feeder calves, sheep, rabbits, broilers, laying hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea hens, and many, many pigs. In 1979, Betty started working as a cook for the Avoca Nursing Home. Following Bud’s retirement in 1983, they moved to town. Betty continued to work as a cook for the nursing home until the mid 90s when she retired. That is when she could focus on what she loved to do, but didn’t have time for while she was working: sewing, gardening, quilting, fishing, and cooking for her family. Her specialty was knowing how to make bland food tastier; “Just add a bit of salt”. There wasn’t anything that Betty wouldn’t take on. She enjoyed going on extended bus tours and spending time with her family.
On Monday, March 23, 2020, Betty passed away at Avoca Specialty Care attaining the age of eighty-eight years and nine days. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bud; son-in-law Dean Klein; and sisters Arlene Buck and Marilyn Nielsen. Those left to cherish her memory include her children Jean and her husband Michael Kenkel of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Keith Holtz and his wife Nancy of Avoca; and Connie Klein of Panama, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother Robert Scheel and his wife Donna of Jacksonville, Iowa; sister Carolyn and her husband Tom Morris of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Lying In State:
*Per CDC regulations no more than 10 visitors are allowed at one time.
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