Farmer, Betty Jean

Betty Jean Farmer, 80, of 301 Second St., Worthington, died Friday, July 5, 2013, at 10:05 p.m. at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade. Friends and relatives of Betty may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Reiff Funeral Home in Dyersville, where a wake service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Services for Betty will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Worthington, with the Rev. Noah Diehm presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Betty was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Edgewood, Iowa, daughter of Louis and Nellie (Bissell) Cole. She received her education in the Greeley and Manchester schools. On June 3, 1953, she was united in marriage to Robert B. Farmer at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Manchester. She was a waitress for the Elite Cafe in Manchester for several years.

Betty enjoyed singing and visiting with others on her daily trips downtown and bringing treats to all the children in the neighborhood.

She was a member of St. Paul's Parish in Worthington and its Altar and Rosary Society.

She is survived by her husband, Robert B. Farmer of Worthington; four children, Robert A. (Sally) Farmer of Hopkinton, James E. (Sam) Farmer of Monticello, Debbie K. Lynch (friend, Mark McDonough) of Dubuque and Dawn (Kevin) Davis of Worthington; 10 grandchildren, Adam Farmer, Eric Farmer, Allen Polfer, Brandon Lynch, Shelby Lynch, Levi Farmer, Tyler Lynch, Dustin Farmer, Kirsten and Carter Davis; four great-grandchildren, Jacob, Logan and Brayden Farmer and Landon Ball; a brother, Clifford (Helen) Cole of Manchester; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bill (Dorothy) Farmer of Prairie du Chien, Wis., Pat (Laura) Farmer of Strawberry Point and Carolyn Morrisey of Marion.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Steve Farmer in 1985; a grandchild, Angela Farmer; her father- and mother-in-law; two brothers, Bob (Florence) Cole and Bud (Janice) Cole; two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law.

A Betty J. Farmer Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reiffFuneralhomeinc.com.

The family of Betty would like to thank all of the staff at Shady Rest Care Center, along with Hospice of Dubuque for all their wonderful care.

Published July 8, 2013 in The Gazette