Betty Halsted Runnells

Betty Halsted, 75, died Friday, May 29, 2015 at Taylor House in Des Moines. She was born August 16, 1939 in Allerton, Iowa to Leonard and Hazel (Poole) Hembry. She grew up and spent her younger years in Decatur County.

In 1957 she graduated from Central Decatur High School in Leon and then moved to Des Moines, Iowa to start her career in the financial world. She then met and married her husband Bill Halsted. They soon welcomed their daughter Laura and started their family. In January 1971, Bill passed away and Betty took on the role of a single mom. She and Laura spent time going to horse shows together and that tradition continued on with her granddaughters.

Betty treasured the time she had with her family; she especially enjoyed watching her granddaughters showing horses and playing sports. When she was not spending time with family she was very dedicated to her work. Betty retired from Earlham Savings Bank in 2013.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Laura Jacobs; granddaughters, Taylor and Emilea Jacobs; siblings, Elouise Bethards, Imogene Beardsley, Lucille Baughman, Kay (Jim) Fenn, Doyle (Lola) Hembry, Fred Hembry, and Gary Hembry, sister-in-law, Dana Hembry; and many nieces, nephews, and other loving family members. She was preceded in death by her husband William “Bill” Halsted; her parents; son-in-law, Bob Jacobs; siblings, Gail Hembry, Lois Gray, Martha Mae Hembry; and four Nephews.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 1st at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW, with burial at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in loving memory of Betty.

Online condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.