Betty Anne Graber, 78, of Burlington, died Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
She was born Nov. 29, 1944, in Hannibal, Mo. at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was the daughter of Rostron E. and Mary Anna Williams Juett. Aug. 1, 1992, she and Daniel D. Graber were married at Lowell Church by Pastor Ian Armstrong.
Betty was a 1962 graduate of Burlington High School. She attended Southeastern Community College and graduated in 1964 with an Associate Degree. She then attended Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College in Kirksville, Mo., and graduated in 1966 with a degree in elementary education.
Following graduation, Betty returned to her hometown, Burlington, and was hired to teach fourth grade at Washington School. She taught fourth grade at Washington School for the next 36 years. Following that, Betty taught Title 1 math at Corse School for 3 years. After that, she retired from teaching for the Burlington Community School District. Feeling she was not done with teaching, she spent the next 9 years substituting for Burlington, teaching preschool to 5th grade. In 2015 she retired again, after teaching for nearly 50 years. Working with children, teachers, principals, and curriculum was her pride and joy.
Mrs. Graber asked Jesus into her life at the age of 11 and was baptized at Oak Street Baptist Church. She also taught for 50 years in various churches telling children’s stories, teaching children’s church, teaching vacation Bible school, and camp counseling. She also played the organ and piano at various churches.
Mrs. Graber loved her animals, having seven dogs from time to time. She camped with her husband and both were members of Good Sam’s Wapello County camping club. She and her husband were avid antiquers and had many collections.
Attending many bluegrass concerts was a highlight.
She loved being with her family. She has one brother, Alfred (Lek) Juett having retired in Las Vegas, Nevada, and moving to Thailand; one sister Helen in St. Paul, Minn. She is also survived by two nieces Amber (Brian) of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Heather (Scott) in Roseville, Minn. To Heather and Scott, three children have been born and were the apple of their great aunt’s eyes. They are Charlotte, Felix, and Nathaniel.
She loved playing games with family and friends, especially cards. She enjoyed cross-stitching.
Every Sunday evening she ate at Mazzio’s with her church friends. Their group had been together for over 25 years.
The memorial service for Mrs. Graber will be at 1 p.m. at Lunning Chapel on Tuesday, May 23 with Steve Parker officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Green Mound Cemetery in rural Trenton.
According to her wishes, cremation has been accorded and entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Des Moines County Humane Society.