Betty Ann Beyer

Betty Ann Beyer, 74, of Sioux City passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, at Sunrise Manor in Sioux City following a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Kenny Hsu, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Celebration of Life will be 2 to 5 p.m. today at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Betty was born March 24, 1934, in Freeport, Ill., to Adolph and Ann (Wurch) Peters. She moved with her family to Waterloo, Iowa, and then to Sioux City, where she attended Sioux City schools, graduating from Central High School in 1952. She received a BS in psychology from Morningside College and an MA in adult education from the University of South Dakota. She received her diploma in nursing from the Lutheran School of Nursing in Sioux City, graduating in 1955.

She married Bob Beyer at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sioux City on June 25, 1967. He preceded her in death in October 1983. After graduating from nursing school, Betty immediately began her employment with St. Luke's Hospital, starting in the operating room and eventually becoming a nursing instructor. She also worked in the library media services department. Her years of employment at St. Luke's Hospital totaled 44 years when she retired April 1, 1999.

Betty was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sioux City. She was also a member of the Quota Club, Sioux City Chapter for many years. She enjoyed volunteering for the NAIA Basketball Tournaments in Sioux City, playing cards with her friends and she also liked to gamble at the riverboat in Sioux City. Betty loved to eat matzo ball soup at Green Gables in Sioux City. She also loved to travel and took many cruises and trips abroad, including a trip to Bethlehem.

She attended plays at the Sioux City Community Theater and Lamb Theater. She was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams and the Sioux City Explorers baseball team. She enjoyed watching Chicago Bulls basketball, Minnesota Vikings football as well as the Sioux City Bandits football games.

Survivors include a sister, Carolyn Schmeckpeper of Pender, Neb.; a sister-in-law, Darlene Peters of Hazelwood, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Norma Freese of Holstein, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Earl Beyer of Holstein; and many nieces and nephews, whom she loved like her own children. They include Bob Schmeckpeper and his wife, Sandy and their children, Alan and his wife, Elisha and Sara and her fiance, Jon Toyne, all of Sioux City; Scott Schmeckpeper and his wife, Erica and their children, Brook and Jared of Pender, Neb.; Kurt Schmeckpeper and his wife, Shannon and their children, Braden and Marisa of Crete, Neb.; Kathy and her husband, Len Murray of Spokane, Wash., and their children, Melissa, Mandy and April; Sherri and her husband, Bob Kuczynski of Chicago, Ill., and their children, Brian and Becky; Susan and her husband, Earl Moy of Monee, Ill.; Steve Peters and his wife, Sharon of Lowell, Ind., and their children, Doug and Christina; Wayne Freese and his wife, Karen of Worthington, Minn.;

Harold Freese and his wife, Jeanie of Holstein; Paul Freese and his wife, Debbie of Webster City, Iowa; Jim Beyer and his wife, Jeannette of Independence, Iowa; Connie and her husband, Bob Ogier of Vinton, Iowa; and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, Donald Peters; a brother-in-law, Les Schmeckpeper on Jan. 15, 2009; a brother-in-law, Melvin Freese; a sister-in-law, Lorraine Beyer; and many aunts and uncles.

Pallbearers will be Bob, Scott, Kurt and Alan Schmeckpeper, Jon Toyne and Wayne Freese. Honorary pallbearers will be her godchildren, Bob Schmeckpeper, Sara Schmeckpeper, Becky Kuczynski and Christopher John Block.

Primary memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran School, 612 Jennings St., Sioux City, IA 51101. Secondary memorials may be directed to St. Luke's College, c/o St. Luke's Health Foundation, 2720 Stone Park Blvd., Sioux City, IA 51104, and the Quota Foundation of Sioux City, 1715 Summit St., Sioux City, IA 51105.