Betty Somermeyer

Betty M. Somermeyer, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at Park Place Long Term Care Unit. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel,where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 21, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Roger Ricketts officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the First Presbyterian Church and Park Place Long Term Care Unit. Born December 7, 1925, in rural Dorchester, IA, Betty Mae was the daughter of Edward C. and Petra Clauson Quandahl. She spent her formative years in Quandahl, IA, and graduated from Waukon High School. Betty received her B.A. degree at Iowa Wesleyan College. On March 22, 1947, she married Orville John Somermeyer in Waterloo, IA. The Somermeyers lived in New Albin and Iowa City prior to moving to Mt. Pleasant in 1959. She taught school in the Mt. Pleasant School District for 33 years, retiring in 1988. Betty was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and the United Presbyterian Women. She was a member of Iowa Retired School Personnel Association and past president of both Delta Kappa Gamma and Henry County Retired School Personnel. Betty was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary. Betty's greatest love and interest was her family and most especially her grandchildren. She was an educator at heart and spent her life educating others and reading. Betty demonstrated a true community spirit. She enjoyed playing bridge, exercising, and traveling. Survivors include one son, Ron (Mary) Somermeyer of Madison, WI; two daughters, Ann Corrigan of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and Karen (Don) Peterson of Madison, WI; six granddaughters; three great-grandsons; and by one sister, Ella Henderson of Geneva, IL. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Orville, and by three brothers, Nels, Emory and M.P. Quandahl, and one sister, Alice Volz.