Bettie C. Akerson

Funeral Services for Bettie C. Akerson will be held on Friday, July 8, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. Cathi Braasch, STS officiating. Interment will be held in the Fridhem Cemetery in rural Funk, Nebraska, following the services.

Bettie C. Akerson, 82 years of age, of Grand Island, Nebraska (formerly of Holdrege) passed away on Monday, July 4, 2016 at CHI Health - St. Francis in Grand Island, following a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. Bettie was born March 18, 1934 at Hastings, Nebraska, the youngest of three children born to Claire N. "Ted" and Reba V. (Schnoor) Brown. Bettie received her primary education at Hastings and when she was a junior in high school the family relocated to Kearney, where she graduated from Kearney High School with the class of 1952. She then pursued higher education at Kearney State College, where she majored in Music. Her love of music led her to teach piano lessons out of her home to many students throughout the years.

On September 5, 1954 she was united in marriage to Dennis Akerson at Kearney, Nebraska and to this union two children were born: Cindy and Jeffrey. The family made their home in Axtell, Nebraska until moving to Holdrege in 1958. Bettie was employed by Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege for 45 years in Medical Records as the Health Information Manager until her retirement 4 days prior to her 80th Birthday.

She was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church. Most important in her life were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Doug Brown and Dick Brown; and a great-granddaughter, Cali Hesser.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her husband, Dennis Akerson of almost 62 years of Grand Island; one daughter, Cindy Sheffield and her husband, Al of Grand Island; one son, Dr. Jeff Akerson and his wife, Tanny of Bellevue, Nebraska; four grandchildren: Chad (Kayla) Sheffield of Grand Island, Amy (Aaron) Bomgaars of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, Courtney (Brandon) Hesser of Lincoln, Nebraska and Adam (Mollie) Akerson of Sidney, Nebraska; eight great-grandchildren: Caden, Chase and Alli Sheffield, Charlie and Jack Bomgaars, Braxton and Brenna Hesser, and Collins Akerson; and one more great-granddaughter on the way; in addition she is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Bettie's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.