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Betty Kistler
BETTY LOU (DUSIL) KISTLER
Fairfax
Betty Lou (Dusil) Kistler, beloved wife, mom and grandma, went home to heaven on March 20, 2021.
Betty was born Feb. 3, 1938, in Fairfax, Iowa, where she grew up. She graduated from Roosevelt High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1956 and went on to attend the University of Northern Iowa (then known as Iowa State Teachers College), graduating with a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1961. She taught in Ames, Iowa, for a few years, before an advertisement in the teacher's lounge caught her eye. The ad was from the Clark County School District, looking for teachers for the growing Las Vegas Valley. After a brief phone interview, Betty moved to Las Vegas to teach in September 1963. A lark turned into a lifetime! She met Malcolm Kistler, a Nevada test site worker, on a blind date, and they married June 26, 1965. The service took place in Fairfax, Iowa, at the Methodist church across from Betty's family home and was officiated by the groom's father. Malcolm and Betty celebrated 55 years of marriage in 2020.
Betty taught first and second grade at several schools in Las Vegas between 1963 and 1970. She transitioned to a full-time stay at home mom upon the birth of her daughter, Kay, in 1971, followed by her son, Kenneth, in 1979. Her family was the joy of her life. She had many fond memories volunteering in her children's events, from scouting to Sunday school. A highlight of her volunteer activities was her involvement with the Western High School Band in the late 1980s. Betty loved to be with her family, and enjoyed traveling to and attending her grandchildren's activities and traveling to Washington state to visit her son.
Betty is survived by her sisters, Dorrie Palmer and Marcella (Bob) Eckmeier of Mount Auburn, Iowa; her brother, Ron (Marlene) Dusil of Fairfax, Iowa; her husband, Malcolm; daughter, Kay (Mike) See and their children, Taylor and Ben, all of Las Vegas, Nev.; and son, Ken (Amanda) Kistler of Snohomish, Wash.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 29, at Memory Gardens Memorial Park, in Las Vegas, Nev.
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