Marjorie Ann Betten

Marjorie Ann Betten died peacefully on August 7, 2021, with her family surrounding her. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at West Des Moines United Methodist Church, 720 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines, IA. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. A private family burial will be held after the service.

She is survived by her three children, Laura (Craig) Collins, Ankeny; John (Lisa) Holtorf, Des Moines; Gene (Jennifer) Holtorf, Solon; her sister, Phyllis (Les) Lewis, Denison; stepchildren; two granddaughters, Sarah and Jana; three grandsons, Eric, Steffen and Luke; and two great-granddaughters, Addison and Mya. Three sons preceded her in death, Ray Holtorf age 43 and two infants, Robby and Eric.

Born on a farm in Denison in 1933 to Ray and Adelaide North, Marjorie finished high school and married Gene Holtorf in 1951. Moving to Iowa City, she worked at the Athletic Department under Forest Evashevski helping her husband finish dental school. Their daughter, Laura, was born in Iowa City. Service with the United States Public Health Service took them to San Francisco, where their son, John was born thirteen months later. Sixteen months later, following the next transfer to New London, Connecticut with the Coast Guard Academy, they welcomed Gene Jr. Their last assignment was in Boston. Living on both coasts was an exciting experience for a young farm girl. Returning from service, they set up a private dental practice in Fort Dodge. Divorced after 20 years, she married a local funeral director in 1973, Bob Gunderson, who died from cancer in 1989. She was very civic minded, involved in many organizations, was a beautiful seamstress, and played duplicate and party bridge. She was alto soloist in the Messiah, joined church choir at the age of 14, sang in a quartet in New London, Connecticut and sang with the Ft. Dodge Civic Glee Club for several years. She also taught piano, guitar, bridge, and an antique class at Iowa Central Community College. Collecting antiques was a lifelong passion. As a member of the Presbyterian Church, she served as a deacon, chairman of the women's group, choir member, camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, and Bible study leader. While running the funeral home with her husband she became President of the YWCA. Following Bob's death she moved to San Diego, joining the LaJolla Presbyterian Church and the Navy League. She made wonderful friends while enjoying the company of her niece, Jackie Johnson, with season tickets to Disney World, Sea World, the San Diego Opera and San Diego Chargers, and plays and musicals in Los Angeles. Returning to Iowa she married Dwain Betten of Boone who also preceded her in death in 2013.

She was a 50-year member of P.E.O., serving as President of Chapter JX in Fort Dodge, President of Chapter PT in San Diego, President of Chapter FY in Des Moines, and then belonging to Chapter NP in Boone and MS in Des Moines. She loved sewing, bridge, singing, reading, playing the piano and guitar, and antiques. (She never met a thrift shop she didn't love!) But her greatest love was for family.

Memorial may be directed to the charity of your choice and condolences expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.


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