Betty Allen's Obituary
Betty M. (Ballew) Allen, age 90, of Billings, Montana and a former resident of Appanoose County, died Sunday, October 14, 2012 at the Aspen Meadows in Billings. She was born the daughter of Richard Lee and Marie (Chambers) Ballew on October 30, 1921 near Moravia, Iowa. She graduated from the Moulton High School in Moulton, Iowa in 1939. She would later attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.She worked 33 years at Osco Drug and later transferred to the Corporate Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois where she was the Secretary to the President for 25 of those years. On April 25, 1981, Betty was united in marriage to Craig Allen in West Dundee, Illinois. She was the founder of the Elgin Alzheimer's Family Support Group in Elgin, Illinois; served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association; served on the Board of Directors for the Elgin, Illinois YWCA and was once elected Woman of the Year at the YWCA. Betty served 2 1/2 years in Costa Rica with a Latin-American Mission Board. Betty also enjoyed traveling with groups to Europe, Russia, Egypt and Israel on many occasions. She had a love for music, art, nature, reading, crossword puzzles and had a butterfly collection.She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Craig Allen on July 20, 1987; and a brother, George G. Ballew.Betty is survived by: step children, Mary Jane Cope and her husband, Jay of Barrington, Illinois, William Allen and his wife, Mary of Boca Raton, Florida and James Allen and his wife, Pat of Three Rivers, Michigan; her brothers, John Richard Ballew and his wife, Frances of Des Moines, Iowa and Jim Ballew and his wife, Jean of Centerville, Iowa; sister-in-law Ruby Ballew of Moberly, Missouri; nephews, Tom Ballew of Moberly, Missouri, Steve Ballew of Romeo, Michigan, Dan Hargrave of Centerville, Iowa; Nieces, Judith Foster of Billings, Montana, May Voris of Halfway, Missouri, Sandra Reeves and Debra Burford both of Des Moines, Iowa Graveside funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, October 26, 2012 at the Sunset View Cemetery north of Moulton, Iowa with Dan Hargrave officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday morning from 10 am till 11 am at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with the family present. Memorials can be made to either the Alzheimer's Association or to the Gideon's and can be left or mailed to the funeral home. The To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Betty (Ballew) Allen please visit our Sympathy Store.
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