Betty Lou Dunn Strain, age 85, of North Platte where she has resided in Centennial Park Assisted Living for two years, died April 3 at Great Plains Health. Betty was born to Florence Idella “Tootie” Henderson Dunn and Simon Bernard Dunn on January 13, 1930 in Grainton, Nebraska. Betty lived in the Wallace and Elsie communities and graduated from Wallace High School in 1945. Betty married Holmes (Buz) Strain on November 3, 1947 and they had three children, Danny Wayne, Sandra Lea, and Debra Ann. Buz and Betty were later divorced.
Betty was an excellent seamstress in her younger years and always made her daughters matching Easter outfits, which included hats and purses. She also sewed pajamas for Danny and the girls for Christmas gifts. Betty made Sandy and Deb’s wedding dresses as well as many of the bridesmaid dresses for their weddings. During Sandy and Deb’s high school years, she sewed many of their school clothes including their prom dresses.
Betty worked outside the home at Montgomery Wards during the Christmas holiday and full-time at CIT and the Credit Bureau for many years.
Betty was involved in many card clubs including bridge, pinochle, and canasta as well as being a volunteer for Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She was a member of the First Christian Church. Betty belonged to the Eagles Auxiliary, VFW auxiliary, Women of the Moose, R.S.V.P. 55+, Red Hat Society, Christian Women’s Club, and the Wallace Alumni Association. Betty was an avid reader of Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts, and Debbie Mecomber, and loved having her glass of wine daily.
Betty is survived by her two daughters Sandy (Don) Peters of North Platte, Deb (Gary) Songster of Sahaurita, Arizona, four grandsons, Justin (BJ) Songster of Pocatello, Idaho, Judd (Natalie) Songster of Denver, Colorado, Josh Strain of Lincoln, and Zane Peters of Houston, Texas, seven great grandchildren, Ashlyn Songster of Lincoln, Taylor, Brock, Cole, and Jessa Songster of Pocatello, Idaho, Ollie and Pyper Songster of Denver, Colorado, and one great-great granddaughter Ava Songster of Lincoln, her brother John (Elaine) Dunn of Kearney, and daughter-in-law Grace Strain of Sunnyvale, California as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Haver Pankowski, her son Danny Strain in 2012, her grandson Zachary Peters in 2002, and her special friend Kenny Tuenge.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Inurnment will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Betty was cremated, as she requested.
In lieu of flowers, Betty suggested donations be made to the North Platte Police Department Trading Card Fund in memory of her grandson Zach Peters, Officer #40.
Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.