Betty L. Berry

Betty Lorraine Berry age 82 of 1836 Bellevue Ave. Bettendorf, went home to Heaven on Tuesday night June 2, 2009.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at First Assembly of God, Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park, Davenport. Memorials may be made to City Limits Ministries Children's Outreach Program
Born September 29, 1926 in Junction City, KS Betty Lorraine Smith was the eldest child of Walter Smith and Elnora (Farmer) Smith. Through her childhood Betty survived the dust storms of the Great Depression, and sought adventure outside of the confines of her small town home. The eldest of 10 children Betty was a caregiver and mentor for her siblings Carl (deceased) Peggy (deceased) Donna (deceased) Leah Smith of Concordia, KS, Pat Brazeal of Ava, MO , Laura Smith of Batavia, IL, Rory (deceased), Nona Lindsay of Lenexa, KS and Paul (deceased).
Betty Smith married Nicholas Donald Berry on January 1, 1944. Being a war bride, she did her patriotic duty and moved to Bettendorf, IA, her husband’s hometown and helped to care for her ailing father-in-law and new nieces and nephews while her husband was deployed around the USA. While there she became a member of Gospel Tabernacle which later became First Assembly of God Church in Bettendorf.
As a member of First Assembly of God Betty was a vital part of several ministry teams. She taught Sunday school for over 40 years, worked in visitation ministry, was a much sought after cook for various functions from parties to funerals to visiting guests. Betty always enjoyed traveling and later in life when many people think about slowing down she went on her first mission’s trip with the church. Through the years she visited many different countries including Peru, Bolivia, El Salvador, Ireland and Spain as well as many places in the US such as Galveston, Texas, North Dakota, Arizona, Arkansas working with the missions team to show the love of Jesus to those who are hurting and helpless. She made several trips to Mississippi and Louisiana to provide care after hurricane Katrina.
Betty also enjoyed being a transport driver for Hertz Rent-a-Car for many years. Her tireless talents brought her to the Iowa District of the Assemblies of God where she worked as a head cook for many years. She also worked with Inner City Ministries camps in Michigan for several years as well. Her personal touch in the kitchen changed the face of camp food in positive ways that is still spoken of today.
In the last few months Betty had been ailing in different ways. She was a temporary resident of Bettendorf Health Care Facility for the last two weeks of her life. Her husband, Nick, preceded her in death in October of 1990. Two of their sons James (Jim) in 1970 and Daniel (Dan) in 1974 also are greeting her in Heaven along with her first grandson Gareth.
Betty is loved and missed by her surviving children, John and Mary Berry, Bettendorf, Dorothy “De” and Tom Reynolds, Bettendorf, Nancy and Corey Black, Crestview, FL and Betty Hodges, Colorado Springs. Her grandchildren, Tina and Robert Craig, Des Moines, Tracy and Albert Gourrier, Bettendorf, Gail Berry, Colorado Springs, Carrie Monroe, Minneapolis, MN, Kimberly Monroe, Atlanta, GA, Jim Monroe, New York City, Tabitha Black, Springfield, MO and Douglas Black, Crestview, FL and great grandchildren Chloe and Megan. She will be sorely missed by her extended family and friends.