Shima, Betty R.

Betty R. Shima, 85, of rural Solon, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Solon Nursing Care Center. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, March 7, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, and one hour before the service Monday at the church. 

Betty Ruth Shima was born July 29, 1925, on the family farm in rural Johnson County, Iowa, the daughter of Victor and Bessie (Cilek) Shima. Following graduation from Solon High School in 1943, she attended and graduated from Irish Business College in Iowa City. For a number of years she worked for the Johnson County Creamery before starting a long career spanning over 28 years with Owens Brush, now Oral B Co., in Iowa City. 

She had been a lifetime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newport Township before its closing. She then became a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. Betty enjoyed her home, caring for her gardens, flowers, and mowing the yard - this past year on her brand new John Deere!

Her family includes her brother and sister-in-law, Glenn and Irene Shima; nieces and their husbands, Kayleen and Mike Gardner and Connie and Dick Friedl, all of rural Solon; two great-nieces, Emily and Kelly Friedl; and Betty's dearest friend, Mary Rogers of Iowa City.

Memorial donations can be made in Betty's memory to Iowa City Hospice or Camp Courageous. 

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Betty's family and her services.