LaVetta L Collins

LaVetta "Betty" L. Collins, 90, of Sioux City, formerly of Danbury, IA passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at Touchstone Living Center in Sioux City, IA. The Rosary will be said at 10:00 a.m. on April 22, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, IA. Visitation in the church will follow until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M., Father Dan Greving officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Danbury, IA. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com . Betty was born on February 17, 1924 in Mapleton, IA to August and Mabel (Uhl) Stark. She graduated from Mapleton High School in 1942, attended Wayne State College in Wayne, NE, and worked at Kresge's in Sioux City prior to her marriage. She was united in marriage to John V. Collins on November 25, 1948 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton, IA. They celebrated 36 years of marriage before John's passing on Feb 3, 1985. Betty had the most difficult of jobs - successfully raising 7 strong-minded children to adulthood on the family farm north of Danbury. In the spare time that left her, she enjoyed walking, difficult jigsaw puzzles, and knitting. To the dismay of her children - back in the days of one television per family -- she was particularly fond of the Lawrence Welk Show. She was deeply devoted to the Virgin Mary and the Rosary, crafting beautiful rosaries over the years for family and friends. After John's death she moved to Sioux City, where she spent many hours volunteering at Mercy Medical Center. She was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Cande (Russ) Cerniglia of West Des Moines, IA; Bob (Cindy) Collins and Maggie (Wendell) Brockman of Sioux City; Leisa (Clayton) Clubine of Madison, WI; Lona Collins of Denver, CO; Ron (Diane) Collins of Grosse Isle, MI and Jacquie Collins of Fort Mill, SC. She is further survived by her grandchildren Tori (Justin) Engelhardt and Terri (Nick) Mechikoff of Sioux City; Kati Cerniglia of Los Angeles, CA; and John, Dan, and Joe Collins of Grosse Isle, MI; and her great- grandchildren -- James and Ian Mechikoff and Hazel and Iris Engelhardt. She was preceded in death by her husband John, infant daughter Becky Jo, her parents, her brothers Fortress (Bud) and Verlin (Cowboy) Stark and their wives, and her sister, Lonnie Stark. Memorials may be made in Betty's name to St Mary's of Danbury and Mapleton. The family would like to offer a special thank you to the staff of Touchstone Living Center for the love and caring they have given Betty in her final years. Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy. Mom - you and Dad are forever in our hearts