Betty Knupp

BETTY KNUPP

Cedar Rapids

Betty Knupp, 96, passed away on July 25, 2021, at The Woodlands in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Betty was born April 25, 1925, in Tilton, Iowa, the daughter of Melvin and Gladys Chapman Dicks. The family moved to Columbus Junction, Iowa, in 1935 and she lived in the area. She moved in 2017 to The Manor at Meth-Wick Senior Living Community in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Betty was united in marriage to Donald William Cutkomp on Nov. 4, 1942. They were parents to two children, Linda and Keith. Don died in a tractor accident on the family farm in 1953. She married Wheelar J. Thompson of Ainsworth, Iowa, in 1958, and they had one daughter, Cindy. He passed away in 1985. She married Richard A. Knupp in 1995, and he passed away in 2009.

In 1953, following the death of her first husband, Betty worked at International Harvester in Columbus Junction until it was sold, and then spent several years working at the Louisa County Farm Service in Columbus Junction as a bookkeeper. After her second marriage, she moved to Ainsworth, Iowa, and from 1960 to 1967 was employed at the Ainsworth State Bank. When her second husband retired from farming, they sold the farm and purchased a home in Columbus Junction. Betty was employed at Peoples National Bank in Columbus Junction for 27 years. She retired in 1995 at the age of 70. She was a longtime member of the Columbus Junction United Methodist Church.

Betty enjoyed her children and grandchildren and rarely missed a high school graduation, college graduation or wedding of the grandchildren regardless of location. She stayed in contact with her many nieces and nephews through the years.

She loved Columbus Junction and her many friends in the community, most significantly, Helen Howe, her longtime neighbor and special friend. She also remained close to her sister, Laverta Evans, after moving to Cedar Rapids and to the end of her life. She was known as the best pie baker in the family, meaning crust and filling "made from scratch!" She enjoyed the card club group during her last few years in Columbus Junction; and when she moved to Cedar Rapids, she continued playing cards with a group of new friends on a nightly basis. She never missed a day working crossword puzzles. She made many wonderful new friends at The Manor and found it a beautiful place to spend her final years.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda Cutkomp Crawford (Dan) of Lawrence, Kan., and Cindy Thompson Scott of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Barbara Cutkomp (Keith), Ainsworth, Iowa. There are eight grandchildren, Mike (Donna) Crawford of Houston, Texas, Tim (Katherine) Crawford of Des Moines, Iowa, Luke (Kate) Cutkomp of Chicago, Ill., Neal (Carley) Cutkomp of Tiffin, Iowa, Jessica Starbuck of Nevada, Iowa, Matthew Scott of Des Moines, Iowa, Sarah Scott of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Emily Scott, Dubuque, Iowa; and nine great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by two stepnephews, John Thompson, Frisco, Texas, and Frank (Marg) Thompson, Woodbridge, Va.; and niece, Nancy Lee Jennings, Buffalo, Wyo., from her marriage to Wheelar Thompson. In addition, she is survived by family members of Richard Knupp: Marc (Mary Ann) Knupp, Zeus (Jackie) Knupp and Jackie Ross (Duane Hammen), all of Washington, Iowa, and Marsha Steele of Des Moines, Iowa. There are seven stepgrandchildren, Jen Knupp (Dewey Faidley), Colfax, Iowa, Courtney Knupp, Indianapolis, Ind., Austin (Tiffany) Knupp, Ainsworth, Iowa, Tanner Knupp, Washington, Iowa, Jared (Megan) Holmes, Wellman, Iowa, Tad (Jennifer) Ross, Washington, Iowa, Cory Ross (Kelly), Washington, Iowa, and Chris Steele, Des Moines, Iowa. There are 11 great-grandchildren in the Knupp family. She found great enjoyment in all extended family members.

She was preceded in death by three husbands; her only son, Keith Cutkomp, in March of 2019; her parents, Melvin and Gladys Dicks; two sisters, Wilma Masonholder and Evelyn Vanselow; and three brothers, Robert Dicks, Eugene Dicks and Doren Dicks. One sister, Laverta (Delmore) Evans survives.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at the United Methodist Church, 517 Second St., Columbus Junction, Iowa. The Rev. Melanie Greengo and the Rev. Kay Mineck will co-officiate at the service. Food and fellowship will follow the service at the same location in the Fellowship Hall.

A Memorial has been established in support of ongoing restoration and additions to the Swinging Bridge historical site in Columbus Junction, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to this project in Betty's name. She was an avid supporter of the swinging bridge and the ongoing work associated with its restoration. Checks made out to "Swinging Bridge" can be forwarded to Linda Crawford, 1005 Langston Court, Lawrence, KS 66049; or can be given directly to Twyla Peters; or to City Hall in Columbus Junction, Iowa.

Online condolences may be sent to Betty's family through the web at www.iowacremation.com.