Betty Elisabeth Kolb, 98, passed away February 19, 2024 at Good Shepherd Health Center, Mason City, Iowa.
A funeral service will be held 10:30 am Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE, Mason City, IA 50401. Burial will be at Clear Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at the funeral home.
Betty was born October 6, 1925, to Laurits “Lars” and Anna (Jorgensen) Mikkelsen on their farm outside Burchinal, Iowa. Betty was the sixth of eight children. During the Depression, the family lost their farm. It was at this time that the family moved around the North Iowa area for a number of years living in Cerro Gordo, Franklin, and Floyd counties. She moved to Mason City to attend Mason City High School. Both she and her younger sister Tess worked for room and board while attending high school.
After high school and the end of World War II, Betty met her future husband, Darrell Kolb, on a blind date. They met through a mutual friend and danced the night away at the Surf Ballroom beginning their courtship. On September 14, 1947 they married at St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City. After honeymooning in Canada, Betty and Darrell settled in Thornton, It was there that they raised their children Deborah and Gregory. Betty worked in the family store, Kolb Hardware, managing the gift and housewares section.
Betty and her family were members of Richland Lutheran Church where she taught Bible and Sunday school, and worked on various committees for many years. Betty was especially proud that both her children and three of her granddaughters were confirmed at Richland Lutheran Church.
The Kolb family home was always a welcoming place for family and friends to gather. There would always be a pot of coffee ready, with homemade baked goods. Many wonderful memories abound on the back deck, and yard where children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews played. In later years, Betty and Darrell’s brothers and sisters, and in-laws would visit, share and create more wonderful memories.
Betty loved to garden. She grew large vegetable gardens for years and later focused on her lovely flowerbeds. Betty and Darrell loved to feed and watch the birds, chase squirrels away from the feeders and watch wildlife stroll through their yard.
Betty and Darrell loved to travel in their later years. Many years they traveled to Arizona to visit family and bask in the sun, bringing home fresh fruit. Later they enjoyed their yearly trips to South Dakota to visit their daughter and son-in-law. Mini trips throughout the badlands, Black Hills, Custer State Park, and many trips to Valentine, Nebraska to buy antiques and purchase elk, deer, antelope and buffalo meat.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Thomas) Jackson; son, Gregory; grandchildren, Bridget (Carver) Mathedias, Danielle Shipley, Julie (Jason) O’Donnell, Wambli Valandra, and Kayla and Jonah Kolb; great grandchildren, Nicholas and Morgan Naumann, Kolson and Kennedi O’Donnell; great-great grandchild, Stevie Naumann; as well as numerous and much loved nieces and nephews; and very special brother-in-law, Harlyn Kolb.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Lars and Anna Mikkelsen; husband, Darrell Kolb; siblings, Carrie (Orville) Peters, George (Bea) Mikkelsen, Leland (Corinne) Mikkelsen, Lillian (Kenneth) Ell, Florence Mikkelsen, Tess (Cash) McMenimen, Gerda (Paul) Hartwell; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Kolb, Vincent (Florence) Kolb; and sister-in-law, Tootie “Marilyn” Kolb.
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