Betty Wickett New Virginia

Betty Marie Wickett, 86, of New Virginia died Sunday, May 22, 2016, at Good Samaritan Care Center in Indianola.

Funeral services were held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola with the Rev. Jessica Rockhold Gaul officiating. Visitation with family present was from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the funeral home. Interment was in New Virginia Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to New Virginia Fire and Rescue, New Virginia United Methodist Church or Good Samaritan Society in Indianola. Online condolences may be left at www.kalefuneralhome.com.

Betty Marie Wickett, daughter of Dwight Reuben Hagan and Blanche Mary (Gracey) Hagen, was born Sept. 30, 1929, in Warren County. Betty received her education in New Virginia and Truro schools.

On March 15, 1947, she married Richard Dean Wickett at Hiawatha, Kansas.

Betty lived most of her life in the New Virginia area. She operated her own in-home daycare for 18 years, as well as working outside the home at Boles Machine Shop. Betty’s first job as a young woman was as a telephone operator in the downtown telephone office in New Virginia. She cooked for New Virginia Lions Club for 10 to 15 years and worked as a school cook for Interstate 35 and also Clarke Community schools for more than 20 years, retiring in 1991.

Betty was a member of American Legion Auxiliary in New Virginia, Red Hat Society and United Methodist Women for more than 40 years.

Betty is survived by her son Robert (Brenda) Wickett of New Virginia; daughter Julie (Rob) Landstrum of Norwalk; daughter-in-law Charlotte Wickett of New Virginia; grandchildren, Sonya Ostling of West Des Moines, Rhett Wickett of New Virginia, Brian (Misty) Wickett of New Virginia, Sarah (Joel) Adams of Gretna, Nebraska, Nathan Wickett (Jill Stuart) of New Virginia and Paige and Tyler Landstrum of Norwalk; great-grandchildren, Jessica (Dylan) Duggins, Garrett Ostling, Dillion (Elizabeth Rucker) Wickett, Dalton and Josie Wickett, Devin Adams and Noah Wickett; great-great-granddaughter Braelynn Wickett; brothers, Robert (Jeanette) Hagan of Urbandale and Forrest (Jan) Proudfoot of New Virginia; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her father Dwight in 1938; mother Blanche Proudfoot; step-father Duane Proudfoot; husband Richard Dean Wickett in 1998; son Douglas Dean in 2014; sister Kathleen Shane and brother Dean Proudfoot.