Betty Robinson

Betty Robinson of Clarion, Iowa passed away January 27, 2013 after a long life of happiness and fulfillment. She died at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond, Iowa at the age of 92.

Funeral services for Betty Robinson will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 1, 2013, at the Clarion Church of Christ, 420 North Main Street, in Clarion. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

She was born Betty Jean Brooks at the family home by Lake Cornelia on July 17, 1920 to Edgar and Hazel Brooks, the third of 11 children. Betty received her education at Plum Grove country school and Clarion High School and taught school for a brief time after graduation.

Betty married Marion Allan Robinson on December 25, 1938. It was truly a working partnership. During their time together they farmed north of Holmes, IA, started a small manufacturing company, built and managed an apartment complex and owned a bar/restaurant for a short time. She was a true partner in business, being a co-manager and doing the bookwork for all the enterprises. Her husband had the ideas but Betty carried them out and kept them going. Both her children and grandchildren consulted her regarding financial and investment decisions. Following retirement, she and her husband spent winters in Florida, in addition to traveling widely.

One of her legacies that she was most proud of was the Holmes Christmas Club, a charitable organization. She and Marion along with several friends from the Holmes area started the club around 1947 to help local people that were down on their luck or just needed a little help at Christmastime. For many years, Betty did the bookkeeping for the club, chaired the fundraising auction, and helped deliver fruit baskets to the disabled and elderly and issued money/gift certificates from the organization to those in need. The club is still going strong and Betty has continued to support the organization, offering advice and encouragement, in addition to financial support.

Betty hosted countless family dinners and holiday celebrations at her various homes. She excelled in making apple pies and made homemade bread every week. And who could forget her famous peanut brittle? This was a woman who knew how to dish it out.   Betty was an accomplished seamstress; sewing dresses for her daughters, back in the days when schoolgirls wore dresses. She would sew anything - Easter outfits, prom dresses, matching hats, etc. She also enjoyed needlecrafts, making and giving beautiful appliquéd quilts to her children and grandchildren. Working crossword puzzles kept her mind active as well as politics. Betty had a passion for politics and causes that support and benefit the human condition and the public welfare. In her later years, she enjoyed taking “Thelma & Louise” road trips with her three daughters.

Betty is survived by three daughters and one daughter-in-law: Carole Martin of Clive, IA, Beth Menges (Wendell Mayes) of Clarion, Elaine Robinson (Edgar -deceased) of Bloomington, MN and Mary Robinson (George Seamans) of Clarion. Her grandchildren are: Steven Martin (Holly), Chantelle Martin Kinnetz, Carola Robinson List (Tim), Sonja Robinson Raschke (Russ), Dina Robinson (Mike Pravitz), Clint Robinson (Josie), and Christopher Benson. Great grandchildren are: Zach and Alec Martin, Raven Kinnetz, Madeline Raschke, Augustus, Claus and Inga Robinson, Edgar and Klara Pravitz and Taylor Rice. Surviving brothers and sisters are: Maxine Benson, Joan Schroeder, Roger Brooks and Alan Brooks.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion, son, Edgar, parents Edgar and Hazel Brooks, five brothers: Robert, Jack, William and James and two sisters: Charline and Patricia.