Obituary of Betty Delores Black

Betty Black was born May 21,1928 in Page County Iowa to Ola and Mabel Hiser Johnston.

The Johnston family moved many times, and Betty attended school in Clarinda and Corydon, IA, also country schools Benton Center and Olive Branch. However, even before attending her very first day of school, she met her future husband, Merrill Black as neighbors near 17th and Garfield streets in Clarinda when Betty was five and Merrill was nine.

Her dream was to attend nursing school, but when that dream was denied and, as she and Merrill had spent the past year dating, she quit high school and they proceeded into married life on December 27, 1945.

The newlyweds worked alongside each other on the farm with Betty learning to disc and harrow, driving an old Allis Chalmers tractor. Betty was able to later enjoy employment in the medical field as a physician office receptionist for Drs. Ramsdell, Jensen and Zehr, and as a hospital nurses’ aide. She also served as receptionist at the Clarinda Mental Health, secretary at the Clarinda High School and proofreader at the Clarinda Company. These jobs meant a great deal to her as she had returned to the classroom and completed her GED in order to further her education.

She welcomed children Mick in 1949 and Becky in 1951.

Betty and Merrill often entertained family and friends at their big oak dining room table, and one of her greatest delights was cooking and serving her very delicious food. When Christmas arrived, she delivered many different kinds of cookies and candies including her famous Christmas caramels. If you were really lucky, you might even get some caramels other times during the year.

She also enjoyed sharing her alto singing voice in solos and as a member of a family quartet.

Earthly life for Betty ended early Sunday morning July 7, 2024, at Azria Healthcare where she had resided since 2019. She often said she was happy there as she enjoyed the socialization as well as the many friends of all ages who regularly visited.

She stated she was ready to meet her Lord and she was grateful for the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

She was preceded in death by her husband Merrill, son Michael (Mick) Black and son-in-law Jerry Roe. She will be remembered by her daughter Rebecca Roe, her brother Rodney (Kay) Johnston, her daughter-in-law Sally Black and her grandchildren Megan (Dan) Dusing, Doug (Kelly) Black, and Erin (Ryan) Davelaar as well as her great grandchildren Owen and Madelyn Dusing and Remi and Clea Black and as well as many other family members and friends.