Betty L. Wassgren

Betty Lou Reimer Wassgren was born August 29, 1927, on the Reimer Century Farm near Schleswig, Iowa, the only child of Albert Reimer and Harriet Reimer descendants of two area pioneer families. She left this life peacefully on March 23, 2017, at the Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa.
Betty attended the Schleswig schools graduating as a member of the class of 1945 after which she continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in Cedar Falls and Morningside College in Sioux City. On the afternoon of February 1, 1948, she married the love of her life, Milton Wassgren of Kiron at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel near the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City where Milt had received his Bachelor’s Degree the previous day in Business Administration. Their only child, Deborah, was born in 1950.
As many post WWII couples, Betty and Milt left for California. They started their married life in Marin County near San Francisco in business ventures with Milt’s brother and nephew. Betty commuted into San Francisco by ferry where she worked in sales at a large department store on Union Square. In 1949, they returned to Schleswig where they took over the operation of the Reimer farm until 1959 which is when they purchased the Standard Oil Bulk Business and moved into town. As Milt’s entrepreneurial interests expanded and a true “business” partnership evolved with Betty taking care of the “books” and being involved in every aspect of the businesses behind the scenes.
Betty was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church where she was baptized on October 2, 1927, and confirmed on April 6, 1941. She taught both Sunday School and confirmation classes for many years and was a member of the Ladies Aid serving as President and Christian Growth Chairman, and was also a member of the choir and Voter’s Assembly.
Betty was an active community advocate. She was a member of School Mother’s Club and the VFW Auxiliary. She played the clarinet and was one of the original members of the Schleswig German Band and was the first chairperson of the Schleswig High School Alumni Association helping organize the first “all school” reunion. She loved playing golf and was club champion several times and also served on many committees at the Schleswig Golf Club.
Her other accomplishments included serving on the first County Compensation Board, a member of the Crawford County Regional Planning Commission in its early years, the Eventide Foundation Board, Success 4, Crawford County Hospital Auxiliary as a member of the scholarship committee, an active member of the Democratic Party, and in later years participating as a volunteer assisting children with their reading at the Schleswig Community School. She enjoyed playing bridge, reading, baking, traveling, and being a loyal University of Iowa Hawkeye sports fan.
With endless energy and general interest in all people, she was always available for those who needed friendship and comfort and was the personification of what makes small towns special and unique. She and Milt were able to enjoy a long and happy retirement together which included their season tickets to Iowa Hawkeye football, attending Milt’s Army Division and POW reunions, wintering in both Palm Springs and Arizona, and trips to Europe. During their travels, the first thing she would say to people was, “my name is Betty and I am from Iowa”, which she said with the unabashed pride of a true ambassador. Between her bright red hair, her outgoing personality, and her genuinely friendly nature, no one who ever met her could forget her.
In March 2011, she left her home in Schleswig and moved to Silveridge Assisted Living in Denison where she continued to be social and participated in as many activities as she was able. In November of 2013, deteriorating health required her to move to Eventide Lutheran Home.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband Milton in 2001. She is survived by one daughter, Deborah and Deborah’s son Emanual “Manny”, special double cousin Roger and his wife Sandy, and cousins Jean and her husband Sutton, and James. She is also survived by her nephew Robert and niece Janice, and special friends Lowell and Julie, plus many other relatives and friends both local and throughout the country.
Suggested memorial donations in her name can be made to Disabled American Veterans, VFW Auxiliary, Schleswig Basic Fund, the Schleswig Library and the Alzheimers’ Association.