Betty Benter

Betty L. Benter, 88, of Oelwein, Iowa, died peacefully with her family by her side on Friday morning, January 14, 2022, at Grandview Healthcare Center, Oelwein.

Private Family Funeral Service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Oelwein.  

Public Visitation:   5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein.

Interment:  Hawkeye Cemetery, Hawkeye, Iowa.

A Memorial Fund has been established.

Condolences may be directed to:  805 5th Street SE, Oelwein, Iowa  50662.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Due to the health concerns of several family members, social distancing and masks are required at the visitation and funeral.

Betty Lou Springer was born on July 1, 1933, in rural Sumner, Iowa, the daughter of Edward W. & Olinda M. (Hoeger) Springer.  She received her education at the Alpha School.  Betty was united in marriage to Leonard Earl Benter on December 20, 1948, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye, Iowa.  They made their home on a farm near Hawkeye, where Betty assumed the role of farm wife, milking cows and caring for the large variety of farm animals, until they moved to Oelwein.  Betty and Leonard were blessed with five children, Larry, Eileen, Diane, Keith and Marcia.  Betty and her father had a creamery route, sharing the driving responsibilities.  Betty was a school bus driver for the Oelwein Community School District and was the director of transportation for the district for 37 years.    

Betty was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Oelwein Area Retired School Personnel.  She attended Wartburg College School of Music in Waverly to be trained as an organist.  Betty played organ and piano for Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye and Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein and at various other places for over 63 years.  She enjoyed her time volunteering to play at Mercy One Oelwein Senior Care and Grandview Health Care Center.  Betty was an avid motorcycle rider, she enjoyed golfing, gardening, sewing and embroidery.  She will be greatly missed by all of her family that were truly the center of her life.

Left to honor her memory are her 5 children:  Larry (Judy) Benter of Sauk City, Wisconsin; Eileen (Paul) Fritz of Oelwein; Diane (George) Franks of Ames; Keith (Connie) Benter of Fredericksburg & Marcia (Joy) Hillman of Traer; 25 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren and one on the way; sister-in-law:  Berna Deane Benter of Oelwein and several nieces & nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Leonard on March 3, 2017; grandson: B.J. Hesse; nephew: Richard Benter; parents-in-law: George & Lillian Benter and brother-in-law: Harold Benter.