Betty Schroeder

    Betty Jean Schroeder, 84, Clear Lake, died Friday, May 2, 2008 at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.
    A funeral service for Betty was held Monday, May 5, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess and Rev. Thomas Healey officiating.
    The family of Betty Jean Schroeder has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Opportunity Village in Clear Lake in her memory.
    Betty Jean Schroeder was born on Oct. 4, 1923, in rural Holland, Neb., the daughter of Berend and Theresa (Drent) Lefferdink.  She attended rural country school and graduated from Panama High School.  Betty also attended Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.  Betty began her working career for the State of Nebraska as an IBM operator.  She was united in marriage to Ralph Schroeder on May 12, 1945, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  After their marriage, Betty taught high school in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.  Betty was a supportive wife while her husband earned his masters degree in science by working for the University of Nebraska.  She was also a supportive wife, mother, and grandmother, and also a partner with her husband in the social service work.
    Betty enjoyed cooking, traveling, entertaining, was passionate about music, enjoyed sending birthday greetings for people over the age of 65 at Zion Lutheran Church, and was quick to help others in their distress, but her greatest love and enjoyment was her family and grandchildren.
    Betty was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, a church organist for 13 years in Rockford, Ill. and Holland, Neb., and also was a member of the Tri T Club, and Bridge Club.
    Betty and Ralph chose to retire in Clear Lake, and have lived here for 33 years.
    Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Ralph Schroeder of Clear Lake; three children, Ralph (Deborah) Schroeder of Holland, Mich., Reg (Kathy) Schroeder of Omaha, Neb., and Randy (Jean) Schroeder of Holland; eight grandchildren, Matthew (Shahna) Schroeder of Washington, D.C., Joanna Schroeder-Stoilkovich and her husband Ivan of Malibu, Calif., Ryan (Jacci) Schroeder of Louisville, Ky., Amanda Schroeder of Denver, Colo., Cory (Tracey) Schroeder of Hudsonville, Mich., Kelly Schroeder and her fiancé, Justin Wendzel, of Richland, Mich., and Maude and Madeline Ashley of Holland; great-grandchildren, Amira Schroeder, Izac and Boden Stoilkovich, Emma and Nora Schroeder, and Owen Nienhuis; three sisters, Gladys DeVries of Aurora, Colo., Crystal Sterk and Evelyn Lefferdink of Denver, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Bernice Lefferdink of Ft. Collins, Colo.; many extended family members and friends.
    She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Glen and Vernon Lefferdink.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.