Betty J. Miller

ALGONA ? Betty Jean Miller, 87, of Burt, died Monday, May 22, 2017, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona.

Funeral services were held on Friday, May 26, at the Presbyterian Church in Burt with the Rev. Judy Junkermeier officiating. Visitation was held Thursday, also at the church. Burial was held in the Burt Township Cemetery. Oakcrest Funeral Services in Algona was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Miller was born Oct. 31, 1929, in Titonka, the daughter of William and Beula (Taylor) Batt. She married John Monroe Miller on Aug. 29, 1948, in Burt.

She attended school in Titonka and Algona before graduating from Burt High School in 1948. She and her husband farmed together for 17 years. On Saturdays she would gather up one or two of her children, deliver eggs, and go get her hair done. She was always keeping busy either around the farm or with her jobs. When her husband died in 1965, she moved her family off the farm east of Burt and into town, in a house that was the Methodist parsonage and where she remained for 52 years. She worked from 1966 until 1993 at the Burt Community School, where she cooked and later moved to be a custodian. She would also clean the Presbyterian Church. Her interests included bowling and gardening, and she was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. She was a member of the Burt Presbyterian Church, a 59-year member in Burt, then Algona, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 68 OES; and was a longtime member of the VFW ladies auxiliary.

Surviving are three children, Diann Miller of Wayland, Donna Alt and husband Elmer of Algona, and Darlene Prothman and husband Pat of Algona; one daughter-in-law, Deb Miller of Algona; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Maxine Angus of Burt; one brother, Harold Batt; three sisters-in-law, Emogene Batt, Haruyo Batt and Mabeline Lovstad; two brothers-in-law, Paul Miller, and Bernie Miller; and many other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John M. Miller, in 1965; one son, Dennis Miller; five brothers, William Jr., Richard, Daryle, Howard, and Robert John Batt; five sisters-in-law, Patty Batt, Margaret Batt, Pauline Batt, Julia Miller, and Phyllis Miller; and one brother-in-law, Raymond Lovstad.