Betty Menning

Betty Menning, age 91, of Alta, Iowa died June 5, 2018 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. A Celebration of Life will take place Friday, June 8, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta. Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta. Visitation will take place Thursday, June 7, 2018 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta is in charge of the arrangements. Elizabeth (Betty) Menning, 91, of Alta, IA, passed over to Heaven peacefully, June 5, 2018. She was born third of three girls to Rokus (Roy) C. and Minnie (Beukelman) Vos, January 5, 1927, in her parent’s farm home in Murray County, MN. Betty graduated from Sioux Center High in 1945. Upon graduation she worked as a telephone operator for four years while living at home, before marrying Carlton Abraham Menning on May, 25, 1950, in his parent’s home. Betty is preceded in death by her father and mother; her sister Barbara Dorothy Dorhout; her sister Dorothy Elizabeth Babcock; and her great-granddaughter Ruth Willow Menning (stillborn daughter of Jeremy and Melissa Menning). She will be greatly missed by her husband of 68 years, Carl, and four children: Paul and Jane (Ponsor) of Olathe, KS; Linda and Wes Holmes of Alta, IA; Gregg and Diane (Appleseth) of Northfield, MN; John and Jeree (Carlson) of Fremont, NE; fourteen grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren. Mom took a knitting class at South School sometime in the 60’s for $6. She said it was the best $6 she ever spent. Wherever she went, her knitting needles and latest project went with her. She knitted countless afghans, baby blankets, Christmas stockings, and mittens, as well as teaching grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She even taught an aid while at Methodist Manor. After losing a mitten at school, John told the teacher not to worry; his mom would knit a new one for him when he got home. Growing up during the Great Depression had a profound effect on the way she lived, saved, and spent money. Baking was an everyday part of life… buying flour by the twenty-five-pound bag. Few visitors left her home without a bucket of cookies or homemade bread. She also had a reputation for making homemade cherry nut ice cream, and a Swedish Nut Cake, even though she was of Dutch descent. Hard work and service came naturally for her. She and dad mowed the cemetery lawn while in their eighties. She often drove residents of nursing homes to appointments, never accepting payment. Mom loved trees. She and dad would “discuss” how high he could trim them - usually high enough so he didn’t hit his head when he mowed, but not high enough to let the grass grow well underneath. She even named one “Procrastination” because it grew so close to the garage that it couldn’t be cut down. Nothing defined Mom more than her faith in God, and His plan for her life (Jeremiah 29:11). In the last months of her life, knowing that she was going to see her Savior sustained her. A well-worn and underlined Bible gives testament to her love for God’s Word. Whether it was a Bible study, mission trip, or helping build a new worship center, she was there… with cookies. Thanks, Mom… Visitation will be held at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta, IA, on Thursday, June 7, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00pm. The funeral will be held at Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta on Friday, June 8, 2018, at 2:30pm. The internment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be divided between Summit Evangelical Free Church and Oakdale Evangelical Free Church.

Betty Menning

January 5, 1927 - June 5, 2018