Betty Hultman

BETTY ANN (HOOK) HULTMAN

Cedar Rapids

Betty Ann (Hook) Hultman, 92, passed away Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, at Friendship Village in Waterloo.

Betty was born March 26, 1925, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and shortly thereafter moved with her parents, Carl and Edith Hook, to a log cabin on a high bank south of Waterloo along the Cedar River. Graduating from a country school, she entered East Waterloo Junior High School, where she met the love of her life, Evan "Curly" Hultman. Betty was an outstanding swimmer and was awarded the Red Cross Presidential Citation from President Roosevelt for saving the life of a teen who was drowning in a nearby sandpit. At East High, she had the lead in a swing show musical, written by her fiance. She was active in the World War II effort supporting our troops at the train canteen with her mother. While attending Iowa State Teachers College during the day, Betty worked the night shift at John Deere operating a five-spindle drill press making transmissions for Army M-1 tanks.

She married her sweetheart "Curly" on Oct. 14, 1944, at Harmony Church No. 5, Fort Benning, Ga., and supported him in his military ventures throughout their 73 years of marriage.

Betty graduated with both a bachelor of arts and occupational therapy advanced degrees from the University of Iowa. She worked as an occupational therapist at the former St. Francis Hospital. Through the years, she had been an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, PEO, Tri-Ts, Questers, Reserve Officers Association for Ladies and the Republican Party. Betty was an avid gardener who enjoyed antiques, genealogy, bird watching, travel, music and spending time with her family and friends.

Betty was especially proud of her three children, Susan, Stevan (Sally) and Heidi (Rick), all college graduates; her eight grandchildren, Susan's children, Alexia (Jeremy) and Libby (Matthew); Stevan's children, Scott (Alyssa) and Samuel; and Heidi's children, Soren, Amythest, Sean and Neill; and four great-grandchildren, Evan, Jack and Henry (Alexia) and Lydia (Soren).

Betty is survived by her husband; children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and brother, Carl Jim Hook of Mesa, Ariz.

Her family extends heartfelt thanks for the compassionate care given to Betty by the loving staff at Lakeview Landing of Friendship Village, the medical and nursing staff at Covenant Medical Center and Cedar Valley Hospice.

Memorials may be made to Cedar Valley Hospice or Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1301 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, IA 50702.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Waterloo Cemetery. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at Locke Funeral Home, Waterloo.

Condolences may be left online at www.lockefuneralhome.com,