Elizabeth "Betty " M. Kahl

Elizabeth “Betty” Kahl, 93, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Britt, passed away Thursday, November 10, 2011, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa, surrounded by her family and Care Center friends.

Funeral services for Betty Kahl will be Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 10:30 AM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt with Pastor Lee Nelson officiating.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 15, 2011, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the funeral home, and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wedneday.

Betty had been living in Spirit Lake, but was a long time resident of Britt, later Clear Lake, and Minnetonka, Minnesota.  Betty was born on June 13, 1918, in Wendelin, Illinois.  She later moved to Britt with her parents Chris and Sophia (Desch) Nix, her sisters and her brothers.  She attended schools in Britt and graduated from Britt High School in 1936.  She also attended Britt Junior College.  In 1938, she married Ervin Kahl from Britt.

Together they made their home and farmed in the Britt community for over 50 years and were members of First Lutheran Church in Britt, where Betty was a very active member, and Galilean Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.

Betty lived her life showing us how to appreciate the inherent goodness in everyone through her gentle, non-judgmental acceptance.

She worked hard and made sacrifices with grace and love.  Betty and Ervin were lifelong advocates for educating and enhancing community life for people with developmental disabilities.

Betty gave beauty and joy to herself and others through her artistic talents.  She loved road trips, visiting brothers and sisters, dancing, picnics, golfing, and playing dominos.

Betty is survived by her daughter: Karmon Amsler and husband John of Okoboji, Iowa and Mona Jean Kahl of Spirit Lake, Iowa; granddaughter Shonda Warner of Clarksdale, Mississippi; grandson Trenton Warner and Susan Stone and great-granddaughter Ridley Stone Warner of Oakland, California.

Betty is also survived by her sisters: Geneva King, Mildred and Lyle Phillips; brothers: Bill Nix, Chris and Dorothy Nix, all of Evansville, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews from the Nix side of the family; step-grandchildren: John and Mary Amsler of Austin, Texas, Greg and Chell Amsler of Stevenson Ranch, California, and Paige and Mike Sampson of Libertyville, Illinois, and their families.  She is also survived by niece and nephews: Marsha Peterson and husband Paul of Britt, Gary Kahl and wife Katie of Clear Lake, Bob Kahl and wife Lavonne of Florida, and their families.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband Ervin, son Lon, her parents Chris and Sophia Nix; sister Mary Ann Higgens and brothers: Morris, Matt and John Nix, all of Oregon; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Neil and Lorraine Kahl of Britt.

Betty will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister.

Thank you to the Hilltop Care Center staff- you became our extended family!  Thank you to Lakes Regional Hospice staff and volunteers.

Memorials may be directed to: Opportunity Village, PO Box 622, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428, or the Hancock County Agricultural Museum in Britt.