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Obituary for Betty Jean Sterkel
Betty Jean (McCoy) Sterkel, age 93, of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at home. Betty was born August 7, 1923 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of Martha Belle (Grice) and William James McCoy. She attended schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, and later received her G.E.D. diploma from Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Betty worked for several years as a baker for the State Hospital School in Glenwood, Iowa, before retiring. Betty was married to Harry H. Sterkel, April 2, 1949, in Omaha, Nebraska, and together raised their family on the family farm near Glenwood, Iowa. She enjoyed being home and caring for her children and being a homemaker. Her family remembers her large gardens, canning, baking, and sewing talents. She served as a 4-H leader for many years and was an active and long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Glenwood, Iowa, and more recently a member of Timothy Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa. After retiring, Betty enjoyed going to the Senior Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa and enjoyed many activities including playing cards and dominos with her friends. Betty is survived by one son, Harry Sterkel and wife, Paula of Alton, Illinois, and three daughters, Susan Spilde, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Nanette Fisher and husband, Roger of Bogard, Missouri, and Elsie Maggart, Sugar Land, Texas, 10 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, 3 half sisters, an infant son, a daughter, a granddaughter, and a great grandson.
