Betty Dahlgaard
September 03, 2019
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Service Details
Betty was born on June 19, 1927 in Independence, Iowa- daughter of Fred and Ethel (Bird) Hardy.
She graduated from Winthrop High School in May 1944.
She married Gustav G. Tessmer in Winthrop, Iowa on September 24, 1948. Later she married Harry E. Dahlgaard on October 31, 1959. They moved to Dubuque in July of 1975. He passed away on September 24, 1981.
Betty was employed as a bookkeeper for 15 years for the former Gildners Mens clothing store in Kennedy Mall –retiring January 30, 1997.
She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ.
Betty enjoyed working crossword puzzles, bicycle riding, traveling to visit family and spending winters in the south and taking many pictures. She enjoyed 22 trips with her friend, Juanita of West Liberty, Iowa on Tri State Tours. She has posters and photo albums from each trip. She was a volunteer with the Finley Auxiliary and the RSVP at Finley- receiving the governor’s volunteer award in 1991.
Betty helped to organize the Betty Club in 1990.
Surviving are three daughters, Teresa Kay (Mike) Strum and Marsha (Chris) Theis both of Des Moines and Lisa Calcamuggio- Bowling Green, Ohio; daughter-in-law, Chris Tessmer- Woodland Park, Colorado; two stepsons, Donald (Catherine) Dahlgaard- Norton, Massachusetts and Charles (Diane) Dahlgaard- Waterloo, Iowa; one stepdaughter, Patricia Thompson- Waterloo, Iowa; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, George Tessmer- Woodland Park, Colorado; sisters, Merle (William) Stark- Tuscan, Arizona and Ruth (Steve) Novatny- Washington, D.C.; brother, Robert (Neva) Hardy- Independence, Iowa; brother-in-law, Roger Dahlgaard; sister-in-law, Mata Dahlgaard; special friend, Eugene Lehman; son-in-law, Steven Ridnour, Sr.; and a step grandson, Jeffrey Thompson.
The family will greet friends from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50315. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 pm also at the funeral home. Betty will be laid to rest at Taylorsville Cemetery in Arlington, Iowa on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 11:30 am.
A Betty Dahlgaard memorial fund has been established and may be sent to Kay Strum.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Phil Keating
10/09/2019
Sorry to hear of your loss. Betty was a wonderful woman.
Debi Muntz
09/15/2019
So sorry to hear of Bettys passing. We lived in the same apartment building in DBQ. We had some fun times there. Came home once to find smoke in the halls. Betty was making hard boiled eggs and forgot about them. Thus water evaporated and eggs exploded.
Cindy Weidemann
09/15/2019
Lisa And the Dahlgaard Family, I wanted to share that I knew your Mom as a volunteer at Finley Hospital in Dubuque. She was so kind and had a beautiful smile. She touched so many lives in her work there. My sympathy to you are your family. Hugs!
Torres
09/13/2019
Our sympathy to your family. Very sorry for your loss. May you find strength and comfort in the Bible at Acts 24:15 And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both righteous and the unrighteous.
Diana & Clyde Varney
09/12/2019
We were so sorry to hear about Aunt Betty. She was very special to me growing up. She always had a big smile and welcoming hug every time I saw her. Now she can be with Uncle Harry and Mom in Heaven! Love, Clyde & Diana
Ed and LarieAnn Schmidt
09/09/2019
Kay and family--- so very sorry to hear about your mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Know you have many fond memories of special times with your mom. God bless you all.
Jane &Gary Weston
09/05/2019
Our sympathy to your family. I have many fond memories of Sunday dinners with Uncle Harry & Aunt Betty. Always lots of laughs and stories with them. Precious people!