Betty Wilken

Funeral Services for Betty Wilken will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska with Pastor Rick Meyer officiating. Interment will follow at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery.

Betty Lulu Amelia Wilken, 85 years of age, of Bertrand, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 7, 2018 at the Bertrand Nursing Home in Bertrand, surrounded by her family. Betty was born on March 13, 1933, in Holdrege, Nebraska, the eldest of three children born to Ralph Oliver Emil and Ruby Viola (Anderson) Billeter. She was baptized in to the Christian faith at her parent's home on December 28, 1933 and later confirmed at the Moses Hill Evangelical Covenant Church on September 4, 1949.  She later joined Hope Lutheran Church on December 2, 1951.

Betty attended Loomis Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1950.  Following her graduation, she attended Kearney Normal Training School and received her teaching certificate.  She taught for one year in rural Phelps County.

On August 5, 1951, Betty was united in marriage to LeRoy Walter Elmer Wilken in Loomis, Nebraska and God blessed this union with the gift of five children:  Carol Lee, Janet Sue, Gary LeRoy, Loretta Jane and Jeffery LeRoy.  The family made their home on a farm northeast of Smithfield, where Betty enjoyed:  the farm life, being a farm wife, raising poultry, cooking delicious meals, and gardening.

A few years after LeRoy's death, Betty moved to her home in Bertrand.  She enjoyed painting pictures, sewing, quilting, crafting, and crocheting.  Betty loved to decorate and cook meals for every holiday.  One of her greatest joys was watching her children and later her grandchildren, in their many activities and sports.

Betty was active in her church.  She served in many capacities, but especially enjoyed helping with the youth and women's groups.  Betty was a charter member of the ABC Club.

Betty enjoyed her role as a mother and farm wife while her children were growing up.  She later returned to work; first at the Bertrand Nursing Home and then at the Bertrand Community School for 15 years, always working in food service.  In 2001, Betty retired from the cafeteria and began working at the Immanuel Lutheran Church pre-school.  In July 2016, due to failing health, Betty began to make her home at the Bertrand Nursing Home.

Besides her parents; Betty was preceded in death by; her husband, LeRoy Wilken in 1995; daughter, Loretta "Tootie" Colter in 2015; her brother, Bill R. Billeter; two brothers-in-law:  Eugene Wilken and wife, Rose and Paige Freburg; nephew, Dennis Wilken; and niece, Marcia Billeter.

She is survived by; two daughters:  Carol Lee Florang of Kearney, Nebraska; and Janet Stalder and her husband, Randy of McCook, Nebraska; two sons:  Gary Wilken and his wife, Cindy of Bertrand; and Jeff Wilken and his wife, Shauna of rural Smithfield; son-in-law: Steve Colter of rural Bertrand; ten grandchildren:  Jesse (Ashli) Florang; Reese (Jade) Florang; Kimberly (Wade) Kolbo; Matthew (Kylee) Wilken; Andrea (Cody) Robinson; Karissa (Chase) Crawford; Kaylee (Eric) Parsons; Kodi Colter; Cheyenne Wilken and fiancé, Michael Fitzgerald; and Wyatt Wilken; 18 great-grandchildren:  Harper, Emma, and Theodore Florang; Lincoln Florang; Kaylea, Dillon, Alyssa, Bailey, and Karson Kolbo; Westin and Macrae Wilken; Addison, Hadlee and Aleeya Robinson; Cali, Jed, Canon and Jay Crawford; one sister, Bonnie Freburg of Bertrand; one sister-in-law, Carol Billeter of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Betty'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 .