March 9, 1928 - Nov. 7, 2017
A funeral Mass for Betty Reding was held Monday, November 13, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Algona, with Father Merle Kollasch, Father Paul Eisele, Father Cecil Friedmann, and Reverend Mr. William Black officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Algona.
Betty Jane (Bormann) Reding passed away Nov. 7, 2017 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines at the age of 89. She was born on March 9, 1928 in Riverdale Township, Kossuth County, Ia., the daughter of Frank and Rosalia (Kirsch) Bormann. She grew up on a farm near Bode and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy at St. Joseph. Following high school she worked in her parents’ business in Bode.
On October 24, 1949, Betty was united in marriage to Maurice Reding at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Together they raised their family of 12 children on a farm east of St. Joseph, teaching them to work hard, share and love each other. Great sadness swept the household on September 9, 1968 when their youngest child, Nicholas, died at birth. Betty and Maurice had a great love for God and family. The family mantra was, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
In 1972, the couple moved to Algona where she worked in the food service area at Bishop Garrigan High School. In 1993, Betty was named manager of Algona’s first Casey’s General Store, a position she held until retirement. In her later years, she was a seasonal worker at the Pioneer Hi-Bred seed corn production plant in Algona. Betty’s greatest love was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She crocheted afghans over the years for each of her 42 grandchildren, presenting them as high school graduation gifts. Betty also enjoyed cooking and baking. She was an avid card player.
Active in St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Betty sang in the parish choir, participated in Catholic Daughters of America, served as a Eucharistic minister and in the weekly rotation at adoration chapel. She led the rosary at Good Samaritan Center and volunteered time to Meals on Wheels and in the office of St. Cecelia Parish. In 2013, Betty moved to the Des Moines area to live at Martina Place assisted living in Johnston. She spent her final months at Trinity Center Luther Park in Des Moines.
Betty is survived by her 12 children, Mary (Warren) Riedesel of Des Moines; Larry (Mary Jo) Reding of Dallas, Texas; Jean (Lew) Sitzmann of Kingsley; Jane (Dennis) Crabb of Denison; Joan (Mike) Driscoll of LeMars; Kathy (Kirk) Doll of Coral Gables, Fla.; Maury (Becky) Reding of West Des Moines; Rick (Diane) Reding of Athens, Ala.; Patty (Mick) Elbert of Algona, John (Rochelle) Reding of Nashville, TN; Ann (Ray) Beenken of Gilbert, AZ; and Tony (Karen) Reding of Urbandale. Also surviving are 42 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and siblings Lou (Al) Canon of Silver Springs, Md.; Sally (Bill) Asher of Buffalo Junction, Va.; Arlene Ballard of Willmar, Minn.; Karel (Jean Sabus) Bormann of Algona; Judy (Don) Prejean of Arlington, Texas; Ron (Judy) Bormann of Charles City; and Marjory Bormann of Silver Springs, Md. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Preceding Betty in death were her sister Marian, her parents, her husband Maurice in 1982, infant son Nicholas Reding, and grandson Allen Reding.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.