John E. Betten

John E. Betten, age 81, of Kanawha, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2002, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa.

John Edward Betten was born on August 29, 2921, the son of Henry and Allie (Blank) Betten, in rural Britt, Iowa.  He received his education in country school near Kanawha.

On October 31, 1942, John was inducted into the United States Army.  He served in the Army in the European Theater during WWII and on March 7, 1946, he was honorably discharged.

John was united in marriage with Mavis Smith on July 17, 1945, at her parents' home near Britt.  To this union, five children were born.  The family briefly made their home south of Britt, and then moved southwest of Kanawha where John farmed for 38 years.  In 1987 John and Mavis retired and moved into Kanawha.

He was a baptized and confirmed life-long member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church.  He enjoyed his friends, family, farming, fishing, woodworking, and spending time traveling in his RV with Mavis.

Survivors include his wife, Mavis of Kanawha, IA; five children, Shirley Dittberner and her husband, LaVerne of Maple Grove, MN, Jack Betten and his wife, Judy of Fowler, IN, Craig Betten and his wife, Denise of Britt, IA, Shar VanSchouwen and her husband, Joe of Sioux Center, IA, and Sonette Carter and her husband, Lennie of North Pole, AK; 13 grandchildren, Shawn Huot and her husband, Robb of Mounds View, MN, Roxane Dittberner of Maple Grove, MN Jace Betten of Otterbrien, IN, David Betten of Lafayette, IN, Adam Betten of Fowler, IN, Amber Swickard and her husband, Derek of Ft. Polk, LA, Erin Brown and her husband, David of Britt Travis Betten of Ankeny, IA Joshua VanSchouwen, Daniel VanSchouwen, and Jacob VanSchouwen, all of Sioux Center, IA, Ashley Carroll and her husband, Ben of Seaside, CA, and Fawn Carter of North Pole, AK; 8 great grandchildren, Shay Huot, Lyle Dittberner, Kara Betten, Cressa Swickard, Raquel Swickard, Logan Brown, and Clayton Brown; two sisters, Elsie Eliason of Kanawha, Iowa and Lela Freesemann of Britt, IA; a brother, Cornelius Betten and his wife, JoAnn of New Hampton, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Allie Betten.