JoAnn W. Bettinger, age 81 of North Platte, passed away at Centennial Park Retirement Village on Thursday June 25, 2015.
JoAnn was born in North Platte on November 14, 1933 to Orlo E. and Wilma L. (Todd) Eglehoff. She grew up in the area and attended Lincoln Elementary School and then North Platte High School, graduating in 1951. She went to work early in life due to the death of her father in France during WWII. She started at the Paramount Theater, then moved on to Northwestern Bell Telephone Systems as an operator on the night shift. It was there she met Elmer L. Bettinger who was on the night shift at the North Platte Police Department. They were married on February 18, 1956. JoAnn worked as a private secretary at Murphy’s Modern Music and later she and her mother, Wilma, started Jo’s Stitchery. They started out in Jo’s home and later moved to a shop downtown, where her daughter Vicki Schoenwald joined in after the death of Wilma. As the shop grew, she started offering a selection of quilting fabrics and notions, and began taking on commissions for embroidery and repair work for ceremonial church pieces, and for some of the country’s and state’s rodeo queens. She was a generous and loving person who was well known for her embroideries and needlepoint. She loved her shop and all the people who came through her door. After 35 years in business, JoAnn retired from her shop and worked as a desk clerk at the Royal Colonial Inn.
JoAnn is survived by her husband Elmer of North Platte; daughter Vicki (Daniel) Schoenwald of North Platte; sister Patricia Young; as well as other extended family members; and her beloved pets.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother-in-law Dorrall Young.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the WestField Small Animal Clinic for the Elmer and Jo Bettinger Memorial Fund c/o Dr. Craig Kelly, 1821 West A St., North Platte, NE 69101 and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and memorial services will be held at a later date. A register book will be available for those wishing to sign at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.