Betty Newman

Betty Pauline (Broadston) Newman, 87, went home to the Lord on March 22, 2011, with her family by her side, in Harrisonville, MO.

Betty was born March 30, 1923, to Ephraim and Nellie Broadston. She and her three sisters, Edith, Helen and Marie (Jinx) were raised on Muscatine, IA. She graduated from Muscatine High school in 1941. During World War II, Betty started working for Huttig’s constructing ammunition boxes for the war effort. After the war, she continued her career with Huttig’s as a secretary. That’s where she met her husband, John L. Newman. One day, Betty’s friends at work dared her to go for a ride with John in his new car. They were married on October 28, 1949, and enjoyed 61 years together. John’s career took Betty and their two children, Janelle and Craig, to live in various cities in Minnesota, Davenport, IA, and finally to Urbandale, IA where they lived for the past 36 years. In their retirement years, Betty and John owned Newman’s Wire Art. They worked together making wire art pictures and traveled the Midwest to craft shows.

Betty was a Christian all of her life and was active in the churches they attended over the years, including Windsor Heights Presbyterian Church and most recently Walnut Creek Community Church. She cooked and decorated for many church functions and was known for her delicious fried chicken and roasted turkey. She loved the Lord and was ready to go home to be with him.

Bird watching, sewing, flower gardening, visiting with her girlfriends and attending drop-in gatherings and lady circle meetings at Walnut Creek were among Betty’s favorite past times. She loved to talk and tell stories and laugh with her family and friends. Many fond memories were shared about the family fishing trips, her life growing up with her sisters in Muscatine, and her children’s antics. She was giving, loving and kind. Even in the last few months, when she was feeling so ill, she never complained and continued to be gracious to the healthcare workers who were caring for her. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and loved caring for her family, whether that was listening to their heart aches and joys, cooking their favorite meals, or assuring that her husband and son would be settled after her passing.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, two brother in-laws, one sister in-law, and her daughter Janelle. She is survived by her husband, John; son, Craig and his fiancé, Amy; grandchildren, Michelle, Michael and John; sister, Edith Reesink; brother in- law, Jim Newman; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 27, 2011, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. A funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be on Monday, March 28, 2011, at 11 a.m. in the Muscatine Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Hospice Care of the Midwest, 400 E Red Bridge Road, Suite 115, Kansas City, MO 64131, in loving memory of Betty.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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