Betty Jane Armstrong

Betty Jane Armstrong, age 93, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place Friday, April 28, 2017, from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements. Betty Jane Black, the youngest of the three children of Ora William and Flossie Jane (Young) Black, was born a half mile from the Imes Covered Bridge in Madison County, Iowa, on April 6, 1924. She was raised on the family farm near St. Charles, Iowa, and received her education there, graduating with the Truro High School Class of 1941. Betty continued her education at the “4 C’s” Commercial College at Des Moines, Iowa. Upon graduation, she became a secretary and stenographer at the American Optical Company in Des Moines. During that time, Betty met and fell in love with a handsome young Army soldier named Kenneth Armstrong. She traveled by train to join Kenneth in California, where they were united in marriage on April 29, 1944 at the Westminister Presbyterian Church in Sacramento. Betty traveled with Ken throughout the United States as his military career dictated. Ken received his honorable discharge in 1946 and they settled in Storm Lake, Iowa where Ken had attended college. This union was blessed with two daughters: Susan and Debra. Betty lovingly influenced her family in many ways. Three words that characterized Betty were strong, caring and soft spoken. She loved nature and being outside amongst the birds and her flower garden. She passed down her love for nature to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Betty was an avid golfer and shared her love of golf with her kids and grandkids. She received many awards for her golfing, and achieved two holes in one. Betty was also an excellent bridge player and loved playing games with her grandkids. She showed her love to her family and friends by cooking and baking. Her family always looked forward to her delicious pies and she was known to her great grandchildren as “Great Grandma Cookie.” Betty loved her kitchen and cooked right up until the last months of her life. Betty was an active and longtime member of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church of Storm Lake where she had been a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was also a Girl Scout leader as her daughters where growing up. Betty truly cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren and the times they could create memories together. Her personal faith and strength in facing illnesses was an inspiration to her family after surviving two battles of breast cancer. Sue and Deb always looked forward to their mom’s special birthday treat which was a chocolate cream roll cake and a handwritten poem. Betty was loved, honored and cherished by her family which include her husband, Kenneth, of Storm Lake, Iowa; two daughters: Susan (Craig) Mesenbrink and Debra (Brent) Hendriks all of Storm Lake, Iowa; grandchildren: Nick (Jaime) Mesenbrink, Joshua Hendriks and his fiancée Jamie Wright, and Tawny (Hendriks) (Cory) Roeder; three great grandchildren: Oliver and Finn Mesenbrink and Hudson Roeder; other extended family and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Roland Black; and sister, Ardis Goldsberry. This special day, April 29, 2017, would have been Ken and Betty’s 73rd wedding anniversary. Blessed be the life and legacy of Betty Jane (Black) Armstrong.

Betty Jane Armstrong

April 6, 1924 - April 25, 2017