Dorothy Lou Bettis Obituary's Obituary
Dorothy Lou Gilman was born in Corydon, Iowa on April 2, 1916 to George Washington and Maude Jared Gilman. She passed away November 16, 2010 at Shell Rock, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 7 months, and 14 days Dorothy was the youngest of eleven children. She attended country school in Log Chain and graduated the eighth grade. Her eighth grade teacher was the late Pansy Carter Bettis. She was a member of the Log Chain Church and attended regularly until her parents moved closer to the Clio area. She met Fred Robert Bettis from Clio and they married in Corydon, Iowa April 2 1938, on her 22nd birthday. They lived and farmed in the Clio area. Fred was inducted into the Army in October of 1942 and they were stationed at Fort Roberts, California and then Ft Lewis, Washington. It was there in Tomah, Washington on April 2, 1945 when they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Sharon Kay. Fred was discharged February 2, 1946 and they returned to Clio. They regularly attended the Clio Methodist church where in 1948 Sharon Kay received a small bible in honor of a year of perfect attendance. In Jan of 1950 Sharon became ill with Rheumatic Fever and after months of doctoring she died in her mother's arms while racing to Blank Children's hospital in Des Moines. Sharon's funeral was held at the Clio Methodist Church June 9, 1950 and she was laid to rest in Clio Cemetery within feet of her paternal grand and great-grand parents. October 4 1951 Fred and Dorothy saw the birth of their only son, Douglas Dean. Dorothy and Fred farmed and worked in the Clio/Lineville community their whole lives. She worked as a cook at the Lineville School for 34 years and feed most of the community thru 3 generations. She was a member of the Clio Methodist Church, U.M.W. Circle, and a sixty plus year member of both the Rebekah's Lodge and the Women's American Legion Auxiliary. She worked part time at the Lineville Caf and later at Ruth's Caf. She sold her home in Lineville in 1988 and moved into the elderly housing unit in Corydon. She suffered a minor stroke and moved to the Corydon Care Center in January 2006. Dorothy broke her hip Oct 23 2007, had double-hip surgery in Des Moines and moved to the Shell Rock Care Center to be closer to her family. She made a very successful complete recovery and in April 2008 delighted all by walking the length of the building with her walker. She was preceded in death by her parents George Washington Gilman and Maude Jared Gilman; husband Fred Robert Bettis; daughter Sharon Kay Bettis; granddaughter Lorene Ruth Bettis; grandson Craig Douglas Bettis; great granddaughter Sherri Catherine Seegers; brothers John, Doc Drennan Gilman, and Henry Gilman; sisters Verna Lucille Gilman, Elizabeth "Sis" Gilman Foree, Kathryn "Babe" Gilman Barnard, Evelyn Gilman Everman, and Margaret "Tina" Gilman Carpenter; half-brother Ray Gilman; half-sister Allie Gilman Wells ; brother-in-law Floyd Everman and Gilbert T. Carpenter; and sister-in-law Thelma Stroud Gilman. She leaves to mourn her passing: son and daughter-in-law Doug and Corinne Baethke Bettis of Janesville, Iowa; grandson and family Michael and Susan Bettis, Mercedes and Serena of Fort Collins, Colorado; granddaughter and family Sherri and Jason Seegers, Emily and Mya of Janesville, Iowa; great-grandson Jason Michael Riggan Bettis of Charles City, Iowa; special nephews Clifford Gilman of Chariton, Iowa and Larry and Donna Gilman of Allerton, Iowa; special nieces Betty and Melvin Grismore of Chariton Iowa and Dorothy Jean Lillich of Denver Colorado. A vast host of extended family and friends will all greatly miss her. Book Travel to Services To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dorothy Lou Bettis Obituary please visit our Sympathy Store.
What’s your fondest memory of Dorothy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dorothy?
Share a story where Dorothy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dorothy you’ll never forget.
How did Dorothy make you smile?