Betty L. Mertens

Betty L. Mertens, 78, of 301 North Main, Mt. Pleasant, died at 1:25 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2000 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following complications from heart surgery.

      Visitation began at noon today at Weir Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant.

      A Rosary was recited by the Parish of St. Alphonsus at 3 p.m. today and a prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at Weir Funeral Home.

      The family will receive friends after the prayer service until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

      Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2000 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Father Nick Adam officiating.

      Interment will be held in St. Alphonsus Cemetery.

      The family prefers donations instead of flowers to memorials for Camp Courageous, Building Fund at St. Alphonsus Church, or masses in memory of Betty.

      Mrs. Mertens was born on July 12, 1922 at New London, Iowa, to C. Oscar and Lottie P. Munshower Swan. On January 30, 1947, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, she married Paul A. Mertens who survives.

      She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1939 and was a bookkeeper at Hoaglin?s Department Store. During World War II, she worked for the Selective Service in Florida and then in California at Camp Pendelton Marine Base in the payroll section. After the war, she worked at the soda fountain at Panther Rexall Drug Store. She was working at the Princess Cafe when she met Paul. She helped her husband and family on the farm at the top of the hill south of Oakland Mills where she enjoyed outdoor activities with her children.

      She was a lifelong member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant, the Altar and Rosary Society and Daughters of Isabella.

      She is survived by her husband in Mt. Pleasant; three daughters, Paula and husband David Andersen of Altoona, Iowa, Patricia Mertens and husband John Plowman of Cheney, Washington, and Lucy and husband Dwaine Hummell of Mt. Pleasant; four sons, Ed Mertens of Ely, Iowa, Joseph Mertens of Mt. Pleasant, Richard and wife Teresa Mertens of Mt. Pleasant, and Phillip Mertens of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; one brother, Lyle Swan of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters, Mildred Neil of Mt. Pleasant and Helen Prickett of Salem, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

      She was preceded in death by one sister, Twila Swan, and six brothers, Dallas, Glen, Rex, Dale, Robert, and Fletcher Swan.