Obituary for Charlene Lorraine Betsworth (Utesch)
Charlene Lorraine Betsworth, 90, of Merrill, Iowa passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2021, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, Iowa. Funeral Services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, rural Merrill, Iowa. Rev. Trish Underberg will officiate. A family burial service will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8, 2021, at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service on Saturday.
Charlene Lorraine Betsworth was born on November 16, 1930, on the family farm near Brunsville, Iowa to Charles and Viola (Utesch) Utesch. She was Baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, rural Merrill, Iowa and Confirmed there on April 2, 1944. She attended school in Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School.
Charlene and Maurice Betsworth were married on March 16, 1949. Charlene later made her home on a farm west of Merrill. Along with caring for her family, Charlene cooked at Floyd Valley Hospital, the Senior Center, Michalosky’s Restaurant in Merrill and ran her own café in Hinton, Iowa called Charlene’s Place.
Charlene’s life revolved around her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cared for many of her grandchildren while they were growing up. Everyone in Merrill knew her as “Gram B” and as the local Merrill historian. She was a fantastic cook and seamstress. She enjoyed crafting, feeding her birds, canning and growing flowers and vegetables in her gardens. Charlene embraced technology and posted regularly on Facebook and loved using Facetime with her family.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Rich (Donna) Betsworth of Marseilles, IL, Charlotte (Bart) Kasten of Simi Valley, CA, Renee (Don) Glenn of Merrill, IA, Bette (Tom) Fischer of Hinton, IA, Paul (Christy) Betsworth of Westfield, IA, Kathy (Jeff) Neary of Merrill, IA and Tammy Betsworth of Dakota Dunes, SD; grandchildren, Michelle, Scott, Sherry, Sarah, Martha, Matt, Josh, Liz, Jeff, Lori, Kelsey, Nicki, Craig, Tyler, Jenna, Carie, JJ, Christopher, Anna, Jacob, Harold, Becka, Andy, Micah, Vanessa, Angela, Melissa, Makayla, Hannah; great-grandchildren, Avery, Elliot, Rowen, Albae, DJ, Colton, Vincent, Wyatt, Charlee, Axton, Jack, Jed, Paul, Cece, Frannie, Kaden, Karsen, Cady, Cali, Jacob, Hannah, Hayley, Harley, Tori, Eileen, Marissa, Jack, Allie, Trey, Jake, Madison, Ashleigh, Gracie, Kyle, Payton, Austin, Xander, Julia, Cody, Dean, Crystal, Angela, Melissa, Vanessa, Trevor, Elijah, Nicholas, Amelia; great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Margaret Utesch of Worthington, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Harlan and Tom; a grandson, Stephen Betsworth; brothers, Merlin (Dorothy) and Lowell; and a son-in-law, Dale Fischer.
Charlene Lorraine Betsworth was born on November 16, 1930, on the family farm near Brunsville, Iowa to Charles and Viola (Utesch) Utesch. She was Baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, rural Merrill, Iowa and Confirmed there on April 2, 1944. She attended school in Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School.
Charlene and Maurice Betsworth were married on March 16, 1949. Charlene later made her home on a farm west of Merrill. Along with caring for her family, Charlene cooked at Floyd Valley Hospital, the Senior Center, Michalosky’s Restaurant in Merrill and ran her own café in Hinton, Iowa called Charlene’s Place.
Charlene’s life revolved around her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cared for many of her grandchildren while they were growing up. Everyone in Merrill knew her as “Gram B” and as the local Merrill historian. She was a fantastic cook and seamstress. She enjoyed crafting, feeding her birds, canning and growing flowers and vegetables in her gardens. Charlene embraced technology and posted regularly on Facebook and loved using Facetime with her family.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Rich (Donna) Betsworth of Marseilles, IL, Charlotte (Bart) Kasten of Simi Valley, CA, Renee (Don) Glenn of Merrill, IA, Bette (Tom) Fischer of Hinton, IA, Paul (Christy) Betsworth of Westfield, IA, Kathy (Jeff) Neary of Merrill, IA and Tammy Betsworth of Dakota Dunes, SD; grandchildren, Michelle, Scott, Sherry, Sarah, Martha, Matt, Josh, Liz, Jeff, Lori, Kelsey, Nicki, Craig, Tyler, Jenna, Carie, JJ, Christopher, Anna, Jacob, Harold, Becka, Andy, Micah, Vanessa, Angela, Melissa, Makayla, Hannah; great-grandchildren, Avery, Elliot, Rowen, Albae, DJ, Colton, Vincent, Wyatt, Charlee, Axton, Jack, Jed, Paul, Cece, Frannie, Kaden, Karsen, Cady, Cali, Jacob, Hannah, Hayley, Harley, Tori, Eileen, Marissa, Jack, Allie, Trey, Jake, Madison, Ashleigh, Gracie, Kyle, Payton, Austin, Xander, Julia, Cody, Dean, Crystal, Angela, Melissa, Vanessa, Trevor, Elijah, Nicholas, Amelia; great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Margaret Utesch of Worthington, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Harlan and Tom; a grandson, Stephen Betsworth; brothers, Merlin (Dorothy) and Lowell; and a son-in-law, Dale Fischer.