Berdetta "Betty" Papke-Mommsen, 89, of Miles, passed away at the Bickford Cottage, on July 10, 2012. Funeral service will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 13, at Saint John's Lutheran Church, Preston, Iowa. A visitation will occur from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Thursday, July 12, at Saint John's Lutheran Church, Preston, Iowa. Burial will immediately follow the funeral service at Miles Cemetery, Miles, Iowa. Lemke Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements.
Betty was born November, 16, 1922, the daughter of Frank and Aldie (Hill) Wall. Betty graduated from Sabula High School in 1939 and went on to graduate from Scoville Business College in Clinton, Iowa. Betty first worked at the Rock Island Arsenal and then later was employed at Schick Army Hospital in Clinton, Iowa , as a medical secretary.
Betty married Kenneth Papke on June 2, 1946 and they farmed outside of Miles, Iowa until his death in May 1986. On October 29, 1988 she married Clinton County farmer Wayne Mommsen.
She was a member of Saint John's Lutheran Church in Preston, Iowa. She was also affiliated with the Miles American Legion Auxiliary, the Auxiliary Past Presidents Club, the Homemakers organization, the Miles Literary Club and was active in 4-H activities.
Betty loved to play cards and participated in clubs from Iowa to Apache Junction, Arizona where she and her husband wintered. In middle age, she took up the hobby of painting. She was well known in Jackson County for her artistic renditions of local landmarks - particularly Green Island Depot.
Betty is survived by her husband Wayne Mommsen of Miles; children - Nancy (David) Luscombe of Cedar Park, Texas, Dr. Diane Papke (Dr. David Cole), of Eldridge, Iowa, Dean (Mary K). Papke of Miles; Seven Grandchildren, Dain Luscombe, Kara Powell, Crystal Patterson, Candice Graf, Bryan Faur, Lauren Goodman, Evan Cole; six great grandchildren; four stepdaughters - Lavonne (Bill) Hudson of Cherokee Arkansas, Judy (Denis) Fredrickson of Andover, Iowa, Cindy (Dave) Heilman of Elvira, Iowa, Bonnie (Clint) Paisley of Aurora, Nebraska; twelve step-grandchildren; nineteen step-great grandchildren; three sisters - Florence House of Maquoketa, Helen Soenksen of DeWitt, and twin sister Nan (Robert) Haines of Clinton Iowa along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Kenneth Papke, children Brian and Vicki Papke, one brother - Glen Wall and one step-grandson - Justin Faur.
Memorial are to be established.

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