Ralph F. Betsworth

Ralph F. "Bud" Betsworth, 87, of Sioux City passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Memorial services will be noon Wednesday at Crescent Park United Methodist Church, with the Pastors Michelle Williamson and Merrill Muller officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church. There will be a luncheon following the service Wednesday at the church.

Our dad was born to Ralph L. and Mattie (Hoxie) Betsworth on Sept. 30, 1919, in Hancock Township, Plymouth County, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Central High School in 1938, his parents were so proud of him. He also played football while in high school. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from April 22, 1941 to Dec. 7, 1945, where he received the rank of sergeant.

He married his only sweetheart, Dorothy Ellen Morgan, on Dec. 26, 1942, in Dakota City. They would have celebrated 65 wonderful years this December. The couple traveled all over while he was in the Army. He worked for 35 years as a boiler engineer for I.P.S. at Big Sioux and Kirk Power Stations. He lived with his daughter, Carla, for the last seven months.

He taught baseball, remodel and built homes along with his father-in-law, Carl C. Morgan. He enjoyed taking in football games, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes. He loved to travel and go out to eat. He also loved his entire family. He was always there with a helping hand.

He is survived by his lovely wife, Dorothy of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Randy D. and Ruth Betsworth of Waterloo, Iowa; a daughter, Carla Raellyn Betsworth of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Anthony and Lori Betsworth of Sioux City; three grandchildren, Ryan D. Betsworth of Iowa City, Iowa, Rene' M. and her husband, Jeremy Tietz of Waterloo, Iowa, and Kayla M. Betsworth of Sioux City; three great-grandchildren, Reawna M. Betsworth, Kalli Tietz and Reegan E. Tietz, all of Waterloo; three sisters, Frances and John Bower of Salix, Iowa, Ruth Weis of Dakota Dunes, S.D., and Margie and Bob McKenna of Desert Hot Springs, Calif.; an aunt, Dollie Betsworth of Calif.; an uncle, Harry Stultz of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Betsworth in 1989; two sisters, LaVonne Friemark in 1994, and Minnie Orr in 2000; two brothers-in-law, Robert Friemark in 1980, and Hank Weis in 2004; and a sister-in-law, Beatrice Betsworth in 1993.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crescent Park United Methodist Church in memory of Bud Betsworth.