Betty Ballasch

BETTY BALLASCH

Coralville

Betty Jane Ballasch, 93, of Coralville, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center. A memorial service to celebrate Betty Jane's life will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 123 E. Market St., Iowa City. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood, Wash., at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Good Samaritan Fund of Christwood Senior Living, Shoreline, Wash.

Betty Jane was born March 31, 1921, in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Frank and Artia (Winder) Luke. She grew up in Denver and Cleveland. She graduated from Cleveland State, then Fenn College. On May 25, 1946, Betty Jane married Lawrence "Larry" Ballasch. Larry re-enlisted in the Navy and the couple lived in Denver for a number of years before he was transferred to Washington state.

Betty Jane earned her MLS (Master of Library Science) from the University of Washington and worked with Sno-Isle Regional Library until her retirement. Following Larry's death in 1990, Betty Jane continued to reside in Washington until moving back to Coralville in 2010 to be closer to her daughter, Sandra.

Betty Jane enjoyed many hobbies and interests in her free time. She and her husband loved collecting teddy bears. She was an avid reader, and both she and Larry enjoyed piloting their own aircraft. Betty Jane also was a member of the Presbyterian Church and fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams when she was elected to attend the church's General Assembly a few years before moving to Iowa City.

Survivors include her three daughters, Sandra Ballasch of Iowa City, Karen Welborn of Tucson, Ariz., and Judy Vo of Munich, Germany; three grandchildren, Jeremiah Lindmark, Matthew Lindmark and Melissa Vo; and one great-grand-daughter, Emily Lindmark.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters and a brother.

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