Betty Anne (Stolle) Schwarten, 85, of Wakefield, died Saturday, June 24, 2023, in Omaha, surrounded by her children.
A memorial visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 2, 2023, at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield. The Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 3 at Salem Lutheran Church. Inurnment will be in the Wakefield Cemetery in Wakefield.
Memorials may be directed to Salem Lutheran Church Memorial Fund and the Wakefield Community Foundation Endowment Fund.
Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.
Betty Anne (Stolle) Schwarten was born on June 7, 1938, at Jamieson Hospital in Wayne to Herman and Marian (Holm) Stolle. She was baptized on July 31, 1938, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, east of Concord by Rev. G.T. Kern. She was confirmed on March 21, 1951, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Betty attended Myrtle Creek (District 30) Country School until the eighth grade, and attended Wakefield High School, graduating in 1956. Betty married Weldon Schwarten on Oct.1, 1961 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The couple had four children and 52 wonderful years of marriage.
After high school graduation, Betty worked at Morey’s in Sioux City, Iowa and then worked for attorney Harry N. Larson, and Walter L. Moller Real Estate, in Wakefield for several years. In 1961, Betty began working as a part time clerk at the Wakefield Post Office, until becoming a full-time rural mail carrier in Wisner for three years. She came back to carry mail for Route 2 in Wakefield in 1989, before formally retiring in 2004. This was a job she truly loved.
Betty was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church, having served on Church Council, many committees, served as an usher, the quilters group, confirmation mentor, and the WELCA group until her death. She served on the Dixon County Board of Supervisors for 12 years, as well as volunteering at the Senior Center, and delivering Meals on Wheels. She loved the outdoors, and could be found working on her lawn, playing golf, walking or bike riding the trails and family camping at Ponca State Park. Betty and Weldon traveled to many interesting places after retiring and followed their grandchildren on their many activities. After Weldon’s death, she traveled with a lady friend to numerous fascinating locations.
Survivors include two daughters, Teri (Roger) Sahs of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Tricia (Joe) Rehrs of Falls City; two sons, Thomas (Kimberly) Schwarten of Omaha and Timothy (Beth) Schwarten of Tea, South Dakota; two sisters, Shirley Anderson of Fort Collins, Colorado, Jane Nethers of Los Alamitos, California, sister-in-law, Mae Schwarten of Wakefield; 10 grandchildren, Ashley (Kevin) Thomas, Ethan Schwarten, Nicholas Sahs, Nathaniel Sah, Grant Schwarten, Britton Lyon, Brendon (Aly) Lyon, Megan (Stephen) Randall, Josh (Amanda) Rehrs and Taylor Johnson; eight great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Marian Stolle; husband, Weldon, on Aug. 16, 2014; father and mother-in-law, Charles and Anna Schwarten; brothers-in-law, Merle Schwarten, Richard Nethers and Loren Anderson; sister-in-law, Lois Schwarten; nephews, Bradley Schwarten, Douglas Schwarten, Randy Still; infant niece, Jeanette Ebmeier; and great niece, Megan Schwarten.
