Betty Ruth Brown

Betty Ruth Godwin Yohe Brown In a blizzard so fierce the doctor had to be carried by her father on horseback, Betty Ruth Godwin was born in Guthrie County, Iowa, on February 18,1926. Ninety-five years later, it was a sunny Spring day with flowers in bloom in Saint Louis County, Missouri, when Betty R. Brown was carried Home by her heavenly Father on May 12, 2021. Raised on farms near Oakville and Morning Sun, Iowa, she graduated from Morning Sun High School in 1944. It was during these years of hardship and hard work that she developed her lifelong motto of "we'll just have to make the best of it". She joined the war effort in 1944 as a graduate from the Omaha School of Teletype Operators and was assigned to Miami. In 1946, she returned to Iowa and attended beauty school with her sister, Kate. In 1948, she married Philip Yohe and grew both farm and family on The Old White Way near Columbus Junction, Iowa. All five of her children - Cindy, Nancy, Bill, Tim and Linda - were born on that farm. As hard as they worked, Betty and Phil managed to create endless memories - including golf, homemade ice cream, game nights, and even a houseboat handcrafted with family and friends, and christened "The Full House". The next years would take them to Washington, Winfield and Wapello, Iowa. In 1968, Betty was widowed at the age of 42. Married to Fred Brown in 1971, she became step-mother to Larry, Denny and Doug Brown. She and Fred spent many years gardening and canning, dancing and volunteering, and traveling by camper to visit children and grandchildren in Florida, Virginia and Texas. Throughout her life, she was devoted to Jesus and served Him through her local church. She demonstrated her love for God by loving others so well, embodying the scripture in 1John 4:19 - "We love each other because He loved us first." In 1970, she was ordained as elder, and in 1981 as deacon, in the First Presbyterian Church of Wapello. She was a dedicated contributor to church projects, especially enjoying sewing and baking with women who were faithful friends. Also dear to her heart was "The Journey", a group founded by the church to minister to women in the area who were living alone by various circumstances. For many years, she was also a member of the local chapter of the Tri-T organization. The only time all of her five children got together annually was to come "home" on the 4th of July. The Grandview parade and the Morning Sun fireworks became a treasured tradition. For over 40 years, her great effort endured to feed and house all of us and our ever-growing families! Her Snickerdoodles are a favorite of her great-grandchildren to this day. Her counters laden with baked goods and family-favorite recipes are still an inspiration! One of the last of "the last great generation", hers was a life of service and sacrifice. She persevered through the Great Depression, World WarII, smallpox, polio ...and a pandemic. As she navigated the maze of dementia and the separation from family and friends by pandemic restrictions, her strength of character held in her determination to "make the best of it". She kept busy by helping others, "assisting" with activities and sharing her "Jesus Calling" devotional. In her final hours, a steady stream of tearful staff gave tribute to her kindness and courage, calling her "my Betty", saying "I know we're not supposed to have favorites,but...", and giving her many tender "good-byes". As one of her nurses quoted, "We gather, not because of how she died but because of how she lived." As we were allowed to gather around her with hymns and prayers, we drew near to the gates of heaven where she now lives - free at last. In honor of this freedom Christ bought for her, for the sacrifices of so many who fought for and have kept our independence, and for her love of God, family and friends - we will celebrate her freedom and ours as we always have - in Iowa for the 4th of July. Family and friends are invited to gather with us to celebrate her beautiful life and legacy - and her Homegoing. As much as we have loved, and been loved by her, she has entered a realm where God's promises tell us that only goodness and love flow, surpassing any experience she has ever known. She is at Home with the Lord, where joy is unspeakable and peace will never end . A service and reception honoring her and her God will be held on July 6th at 2pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Wapello. A private family burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery, where she will be interred with her first husband and father of her children, Philip William Yohe. Loving mother of five Yohe children, loving step-mother of three Brown children, she has a total of twenty-seven grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren listed as follows: The Yohe children are: Cindy(Bruce)Jenkins, grandchildren, Nicole(Josh) Roloff and Ryan(Katie)Jenkins and great-grandchildren Oliver, Nola, Anson, Charlie and June. Nancy (Richard, dec'd) Enlow, grandchildren, Justin "Jake" (Dana) Arndt, Whitney (Mark) Zavaglia, Nathan (Courtney) Arndt and Barrett "Brett (Brandi) Arndt and great-grandchildren Andrew, Austin, Jacob, Brook, Beckett, Beritt, Evalee and Leora. William "Bill" Yohe. Tim (Pam) Yohe, grandchildren, Andy Yohe (Katie), Tony Yohe, Kyle (Rachael) Yohe and great-grandchildren Abby and Levi. Linda (James) Bullard, grandchildren, Jamie (Cody) Huisman, Taylor (dec'd) (Jennifer) Bullard, Jolie (Garrett) Hand and Tanner Bullard, and great-grandchildren Harris, Harper, Henson and Nora. The Brown children: Larry(Sandy)Brown, grandchildren, Peter Brown, Ann(Rex)Brown, Candy(Tony)Brown, Tammy Brown and dec'd Richard Brown. Denny (Joan) Brown, grandchildren, Nicolas (Jeaneen) Brown, Michael (Sara) Brown, Christopher (Katlyn) Brown and great-grandchildren Boone, Quinn, Ivoriee, Hendricks and Nellie. Doug (Kim) Brown, grandchildren, Chad (Lori) Brown and Bethany (Shay) and great-grandchildren, Ethan, Zephyr and Zion. She is also survived by her dear sister Kathryn "Kate" (nee Godwin) Lauderback and numerous nieces, nephews, and their children as well as many friends in her church and community. Betty is reunited with the beloved family members and friends who preceded her in death. Although not necessary, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Betty Ruth Brown may be made in her honor to First Presbyterian Church of Wapello 127 N. Main St. Wapello, IA 52653 (In memo, direct donation to Betty R. Brown Fund). If you choose to send flowers, Betty's local florist in Wapello is JD's Irish Ivy 315 N. 2nd St. Wapello, IA 52653, phone number 319-523-233 or www.jdsirsishirishivey.com

Betty Ruth Brown

February 18, 1926 - May 12, 2021