Elizabeth "Betty" Ward, 96

Elizabeth L. Ward, 96, Villisca, died Feb. 20, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society.
Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Ward, daughter of Earl Bernard and Bernice Evelyn (Larson) Marsh, was born Dec. 22, 1927, in Villisca. She was raised in Villisca, graduating from Villisca High School in 1946. She attended Simpson College and Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing, Council Bluffs, where she met her future husband.
She was united in marriage to Marvin LeRoy Ward on Dec. 10, 1949, at the United Methodist Church, Villisca. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Gregory, Kurt, and Jan Denise. After their marriage, the couple farmed near Underwood, moving to the Guss area in 1951, In 1955, the family moved to their farm in the Strand area, Adams County. In 1984, Betty and Marvin turned the farming over to son Gregory due to health reasons. Later when Greg died, the land was rented out. Betty and her husband remained in their farm home until December 1997 when they moved to their home in Villisca.
Betty was a member of Strand Lutheran Church, having served on the church council and many committees. She was secretary-treasurer for the Rockdale School Board (Adams County) and for the Strand Cemetery trustees. In the early 1970s she was co-chairperson of the Adams County Republican committee. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary #8998 and joined the American Legion Auxiliary, Ker-A-Var unit #251 when she was in high school, chairing many offices over the years. After the chapter closed, she transferred her membership to Stanton’s American Legion Auxiliary. Betty enjoyed the quilting and camaraderie of Strand Ladies Aid. She was an avid reader, spending many hours on her genealogy. She belonged to the Sunshine Girls Coffee group, did volunteer work for the Care Center’s hairdressers, volunteered reading at school and collected her angels.
With the exception of a year (1977) when she worked at Good Samaritan in Red Oak, she never worked outside the home, caring for her family and worked with her husband in their farming operation. Betty loved being with her family, enjoying all the special times together. Betty and her husband were blessed to celebrate their 61st anniversary. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin Ward, in 2011; son, Gregory, in 1986; brother-in-law, Jack Ward; nephew, John Ward and niece, Debbie.
Survivors include son, Kurt Ward of Sun City, Ariz., daughter, Jan Denise Barr (Bill) of Villisca, daughter-in-law, Jona Ward Nelson (Randy) of Villisca; six grandchildren, Shane Ward (Kara) of Kansas City Mo.; Renae Sunquist (Steve) of Council Bluffs; Melissa Dolph of Villisca; Brandie M. Smith (Josh) of Highland Ranch, Colo.; Brice Blank (Tricia) of Conroe, Texas; Brian Blank (Penni) of Gardner, Kan.; 16 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Shirley Ward of Omaha, Neb.; nephew, Jeff Ward of Oklahoma City, Okla.; along with many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services were held Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Wolfe-Billings Funeral Chapel in Villisca. The burial was in Villisca Cemetery with Rev. Gordon Scott officiating. Memorials are suggested to Strand Lutheran Church or Friends of the Villisca Library.