Obituary for Bette E. Stone
Bette E. Stone, age 87, formerly of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away, July 8, 2015, at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, IL.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at the Armstrong – Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. Reverend Jena Manchester will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A Visitation will be held on hour prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Anthon, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.armstrongfuneral.com
Bette Elaine was born to Beulah Mae Reich Ferdig and Robert Earl Brooks on August 4 1927 in Mapleton, IA. She passed away on July 8, 2015 at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, IL.
Bette graduated from Mapleton High School with the class of 1945. She went to Western Union School in Omaha, NE and after graduating she moved to Chicago, IL to work for Western Union Telegraph Company. Bette truly enjoyed her life in Chicago. Her time was filled with attending many events including ice shows featuring Sonja Henie, museums, operas, ballets, sporting events and 10 course dinners, all courtesy of Western Union. One great highlight while in Chicago was seeing the Chicago Cubs play in 3 World Series games against the Detroit Tigers. While in Chicago, Bette met her future husband James Edward Stone. They were married on 11/28/1946. They purchased a home in Cary, IL where they raised their 5 children.
Bette joined St. John’s United Methodist Church I Mapleton at the age of 7. She was baptized and confirmed at age 13. She sang in the choir and loved going to the Sunday night youth meetings. While living in Chicago, she attended the Lutheran Church and sang with the choir on the radio show The Lutheran Hour. Bette attended many churches in her lifetime which included the Portage Park Methodist Church, Cary Methodist Church, Woodstock Methodist Church, and the DeKalb 1st United Methodist church. Her heart and soul belonged to St. John’s of Mapleton were she had so many wonderful memories and good friends.
After Bette and Jim retired, they traveled to every state except Hawaii; they enjoyed a great life together. Bette volunteered for many organizations which included, American Legion Auxiliary, The Pantry, Good Shepard Hospital, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, 12th Armored Division, Rosie the Riveters and many more. Bette was named the 2015 12th Armored Hell-Kitten Women of the year at the 12th Armored Division Reunion which was held in Omaha, NE.
Bette enjoyed traveling, going to the Mapleton Senior Center and her coffee clubs she also went to the DeKalb Senior Center 3 times a week Bette loved writing letters and she corresponded with the Royal Family, many past and current Presidents, many celebrities and sport icons which included Michael Jordan, Mike Ditka, Joe Montana, Bart Starr, Cal Ripkin Jr, Brooks Robinson, Billy Williams, Bobby Hull, and many more. . Bette’s eyesight failed badly which meant no driving, no bowling, very little reading or letter writing.
Survivors include her daughter, Pamela Stone of DeKalb; and sons, Greg (Norma) Stone of Cary, IL and Matthew Stone of DeKalb; seven grandchildren Amy, Kenny, Robby, Tony, Melissa, Jimmy and Sunshine; 13 great-grandchildren Jaime, Sean, Brandon, Ty, Nevaeh, Brandi, Robby Jr, Devon, Aspen, Cassie, Katie, Tim, and Dustin; 1 great- great grandchild, Sage, three sisters, Marian Muller of Spencer, IA, Shirley Muckey of Garden Grove, CA and Barbara Newman of Fort Smith, AR; Sister in-law Ruth Gunderson, brother in-law Tim Stone, many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; son, Kerry James; daughter, Debra A. Postelwait-Stone who died far too young; brothers, Robert and James; sister, Janet Blockel, brother in-laws Bob Blockel, James Gunderson, Joel Stone, Elmer Olson, sister in-laws Evelyn Stone, Marilyn Stone, Viola Olson, niece Carolyn Gunderson and nephew Paul Gunderson.
Bette donated her body to Northern Illinois University Medical Studies.
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A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at the Armstrong – Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. Reverend Jena Manchester will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A Visitation will be held on hour prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Anthon, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.armstrongfuneral.com
Bette Elaine was born to Beulah Mae Reich Ferdig and Robert Earl Brooks on August 4 1927 in Mapleton, IA. She passed away on July 8, 2015 at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, IL.
Bette graduated from Mapleton High School with the class of 1945. She went to Western Union School in Omaha, NE and after graduating she moved to Chicago, IL to work for Western Union Telegraph Company. Bette truly enjoyed her life in Chicago. Her time was filled with attending many events including ice shows featuring Sonja Henie, museums, operas, ballets, sporting events and 10 course dinners, all courtesy of Western Union. One great highlight while in Chicago was seeing the Chicago Cubs play in 3 World Series games against the Detroit Tigers. While in Chicago, Bette met her future husband James Edward Stone. They were married on 11/28/1946. They purchased a home in Cary, IL where they raised their 5 children.
Bette joined St. John’s United Methodist Church I Mapleton at the age of 7. She was baptized and confirmed at age 13. She sang in the choir and loved going to the Sunday night youth meetings. While living in Chicago, she attended the Lutheran Church and sang with the choir on the radio show The Lutheran Hour. Bette attended many churches in her lifetime which included the Portage Park Methodist Church, Cary Methodist Church, Woodstock Methodist Church, and the DeKalb 1st United Methodist church. Her heart and soul belonged to St. John’s of Mapleton were she had so many wonderful memories and good friends.
After Bette and Jim retired, they traveled to every state except Hawaii; they enjoyed a great life together. Bette volunteered for many organizations which included, American Legion Auxiliary, The Pantry, Good Shepard Hospital, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, 12th Armored Division, Rosie the Riveters and many more. Bette was named the 2015 12th Armored Hell-Kitten Women of the year at the 12th Armored Division Reunion which was held in Omaha, NE.
Bette enjoyed traveling, going to the Mapleton Senior Center and her coffee clubs she also went to the DeKalb Senior Center 3 times a week Bette loved writing letters and she corresponded with the Royal Family, many past and current Presidents, many celebrities and sport icons which included Michael Jordan, Mike Ditka, Joe Montana, Bart Starr, Cal Ripkin Jr, Brooks Robinson, Billy Williams, Bobby Hull, and many more. . Bette’s eyesight failed badly which meant no driving, no bowling, very little reading or letter writing.
Survivors include her daughter, Pamela Stone of DeKalb; and sons, Greg (Norma) Stone of Cary, IL and Matthew Stone of DeKalb; seven grandchildren Amy, Kenny, Robby, Tony, Melissa, Jimmy and Sunshine; 13 great-grandchildren Jaime, Sean, Brandon, Ty, Nevaeh, Brandi, Robby Jr, Devon, Aspen, Cassie, Katie, Tim, and Dustin; 1 great- great grandchild, Sage, three sisters, Marian Muller of Spencer, IA, Shirley Muckey of Garden Grove, CA and Barbara Newman of Fort Smith, AR; Sister in-law Ruth Gunderson, brother in-law Tim Stone, many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; son, Kerry James; daughter, Debra A. Postelwait-Stone who died far too young; brothers, Robert and James; sister, Janet Blockel, brother in-laws Bob Blockel, James Gunderson, Joel Stone, Elmer Olson, sister in-laws Evelyn Stone, Marilyn Stone, Viola Olson, niece Carolyn Gunderson and nephew Paul Gunderson.
Bette donated her body to Northern Illinois University Medical Studies.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
2
Aug
9:30 AM
- 10:30 AM
Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home - Mapleton
210 South 5th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Memorial Service
Tuesday
2
Aug
10:30 AM
Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home - Mapleton
210 South 5th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Cemetery Details
Location
Mt. Hope Cemetery
Mapleton, Iowa
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