Memorials › Betty Jane Dorau Preuss
Betty Jane Dorau Preuss
13 Dec 1922 – 15 Jan 2015
| Birth | 13 Dec 1922 |
| Death | 15 Jan 2015 |
| Cemetery | Beemer Cemetery Beemer , Cuming County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Jo C on 17 Jan 2015 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141430500 |
Bio
"Betty Jane Preuss, nee Dorau, 92, of Beemer, NE, formerly of Norfolk, NE, born December 13, 1922 in Wisner, NE, died January 15, 2015 at Colonial Haven Nursing Home in Beemer. A devoted wife and mother, proud grandmother, tireless worker and loyal friend, Betty touched many lives throughout the patchwork of her 92 years of life. Whether on the job, enjoying a hobby or spending time with the family she loved so much, Betty consistently lived each day to the fullest and let no grass grow under her feet. Early on, Betty worked at WJAG Radio in Norfolk and for the Draft Board at the Cuming County Courthouse. Later, in a labor of love with her husband, Vern, she was the bookkeeper for Preuss Livestock Company. When she wasn’t busy keeping the books, she enjoyed many diverse hobbies, including quilting beautiful creations, playing in Bridge clubs, bowling in leagues, growing an expansive vegetable garden, participating in Bible studies, playing guitar, sewing, painting and reading. Always up for a challenge and open to new experiences, Betty decided to learn to swim in her 50s and excelled so much that the YMCA asked her to teach a swim class! Shaped by the era in which she grew up, Betty valued every dollar she earned and was adept at making every cent count. She especially enjoyed finding good shopping deals and sharing her shopping treasures with her family. Betty also gave generously of her time, to friends and family foremost, and also in many volunteer capacities, including working at the Faith Regional Hospital cafeteria and gift shop, making Braille books at church and serving at a local soup kitchen. And the continuous thread that wound through every stage of her life was her steadfast faith in God and her fellowship in the Lutheran church. Betty’s smile lit up a room and perhaps it shone brightest during her treasured moments with her grandchildren. Always young at heart, Grandma Betty created countless fun memories with her grandkids, from fishing excursions to afternoons at the batting cages to competitive rounds of miniature golf. She took special pride in creating custom-themed birthday cakes for each grandchild. And no summer was complete without a two-week stay at Grandma Betty’s house, where keeping up with Grandma was no easy task! Babies held a particularly special place in her heart, so her unbridled excitement when great-grandchildren began arriving was no surprise to anyone who knew her. Indeed, the growing legacy of Betty’s grandchildren seemed to complete the tapestry of her life and her heart. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Preuss, whom she married on January 27, 1945; her parents, Otto and Eleanor Dorau, nee Biehle; two brothers, Calvin Dorau and Bryce Dorau; a sister, Madonna Stieren; a brother-in-law, Arnie Voecks; a step-mother, Hilda Dorau; father and mother-in-law Otto and Dorothea Preuss; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Arvolene Thompson; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Virginia Erbe. Betty is survived by her two daughters, Susan (David) Steffensmeier of Beemer and Diane (Robert) McGill of Omaha; special niece Kris (Craig) Doescher of Beemer; a sister, Margaret Voecks of Norfolk; a sister-in-law, Audrey Dorau of West Point; and sisters-in-law Francie Dorau and Judy Dorau; eight grandchildren, Carol Steffensmeier of Norfolk; Ryan (Charissa) Steffensmeier of West Point; Trisha (Jeff) Robertson of Beemer; Megan (Doug) Moore of Fremont; Brian (Rochelle) McGill of Elkhorn; Tim (Tania) McGill of Gardner, KS; Greg (Tanya) McGill of Omaha; and Jason (Anne) McGill of Omaha; 19 great-grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beemer, NE. Interment will be in the Beemer Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Minnick Funeral Home in West Point and will continue on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. The family suggests that memorials be directed to St. Paul’s Lutheran School in West Point, Essential Pregnancy Services in Omaha, or the West Point Special Olympics." Minnick Funeral Home, Wisner, Nebraska.
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