Betty Howe

Betty L. Howe, 80, of rural Waukon died Sunday, May 31, 2015 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 5 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:45 p.m. scripture service. In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials which will be given to local charities.
Elizabeth Louise Howe was born February 12, 1935 in Garnavillo, the daughter of Bernard “Verni” and Eleanora (Taake) Berns. She was baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Garnavillo. In 1936, her family moved to a farm on West Ridge. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1953, and in 1956 Betty graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque.
For a few months in 1956 she worked as a RN at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Dubuque in the post-op and delivery rooms; Betty then returned to Waukon and September 7, 1957 married Emmett D. Howe at St John the Baptist Catholic Church-West Ridge in rural Waukon. Betty continued her employment as a RN for Veterans Memorial Hospital. While she worked in all areas of the hospital, Betty especially loved working in the obstetric department. In 1977, Betty became the director of nursing at Makee Manor and later advanced to being the administrator; Betty also received her degree in administration from Des Moines Area Community College in 1988. She retired in 2000.
Betty was a busy woman. Besides being a nurse, a wife, and a mother to nine children, she was also an active member of St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon, a former 4-H leader, a member of the Allamakee County Board of Health, and did a lot of volunteer work with Veterans Memorial Hospital and throughout the community.
She loved spending time with her family and liked organizing family reunions. Betty liked being outdoors, gardening, and feeding and watching the birds. She enjoyed quilting, sewing and reading. Betty was also always filled with the holiday spirit (for all holidays) and loved all the activities that came with it: candy making, baking, decorating and sending cards to family and friends.
Betty is survived by eight children, Mark (Barb) Howe, Kim (Scott) Bollman, Karla (David) Hammel, Kristi (Bob) Hager, Vicki (Dan) Schutte, Kenny (Ann) Howe, Mary Beth (Lyn) Tielbar, and Jason (Danielle) Howe; 29 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren (with three more on the way this year); one sister, Mary Ann (Ray) Burke; four brothers, Verdine (Mavis) Berns, Francis (Muggs) Berns, Arthur (Joan) Berns and Bernard (Eileen) Berns; a sister-in-law, Mary Margaret Williams of Denver, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emmett, who died in 1989; a son, Kevin J. Howe, who died in 1998; one stillborn child; one miscarriage; and her sister, Karla Kay Berns.
Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are her grandchildren, Todd Bollman, Justin Howe, Aubree Peterman, Brent Schutte, Brennan Howe, Dylan Hammel, Nathan Howe and Dakota Howe.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.