Betty Rae Wilmes

Betty Wilmes, age 82, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2015, at Sunrise Retirement Community. Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 PM to 8 PM, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. The family will be present from 6 PM to 8 PM and a prayer service will be held at 7 PM. Betty Rae, daughter of Fred and Leona (Lemke) Utesch, was born April 16, 1932, at LeMars, Iowa. She grew up in LeMars and graduated from LeMars High School. On January 21, 1951, Betty was united in marriage with Donald J. Wilmes at Luverne, Minnesota. Two children were born to this union. As Donald was in the U.S. Navy, Betty accompanied him wherever he was stationed. They traveled the world extensively, living in numerous places in the United States, as well as, Japan, Hawaii and Taiwan. They returned to Sioux City in 1969. Betty was an avid sewer and quilter and was a great cook, baker and canner of everything. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts and tending to her grandchildren. Betty is survived by; a son Donald J. Wilmes Jr. and his wife Jodeen of Scottsdale, Arizona ; a daughter Cynthia Vergith of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota; three grandchildren: Kasey Vergith and wife Chauntee; Brooke Williams and husband Jason; and Candice Vergith and Otis Hill. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a sister Joan Bohlke and husband Tom.