Betty Reeg
November 11, 1930 to October 5, 2018
Betty Reeg, 87, of Monona, Iowa, went to be with her Lord on October 5, 2018. Betty Jean was born November 11, 1930, at the McGregor Hospital to Alfred Flexman and Alice Henrietta (Carlson) Siegele. She was baptized (sponsors were Betty’s grandparents, Carl and Emma Carlson) on January 18, 1931 and confirmed September 9, 1945 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural McGregor, Iowa.
Betty attended rural McGregor schools through the eighth grade, graduating from McGregor High School in 1949. Betty then moved to Cedar Rapids to attend the Hunter Business School, after which she secured employment in Savannah, Illinois as a clerk-typist in the Ordnance Depot office. There she met her love, Carlyle Vincent Reeg, being united in marriage December 24, 1954, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bellevue, Iowa. Two children were born to this union, Steven Carlyle and Sandra Jean.
Betty and Carlyle initially lived in Cedar Rapids, where Betty worked as a bookkeeper for the Turner Company. In 1956, they moved to a farm near St. Donatus, Iowa, and in 1964 to Pleasant Ridge, east of Monona. Through the years, Betty was a member of the East Side Homemaker’s Club and volunteered her time at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, active with the Altar Guild and assisting with weddings, funerals, and special dinners. Betty collected cookbooks and was well-known as an excellent cook and pie baker.
After many years of successful farming, Betty and Carlyle moved to Monona in 1981. During retirement, Betty thoroughly enjoyed traveling to all fifty states, with one memorable trip abroad to Switzerland. She assembled many detailed photo albums and enjoyed creating family scrapbooks as well. Betty playing cards (grandchildren) was a big part of her life, including card clubs playing Contract and Auction Bridge, “500,” and Canasta. She and Carlyle also enjoyed square dancing with the Monona Merry Mixers and dancing to country music and big-name bands. Betty enjoyed visiting with friends and family, especially delighting in time spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Sandy Caya (Daryl Bruxvoort); daughter-in-law, Jolene; and grandchildren, Bryan (Jamie) Schutte, Aaron (Allison) Schutte, Alayna Schutte (Tom Lockard), Teresa Reeg, and Shelly (Jay) Pendleton. Betty was blessed with four beautiful great-grandchildren – Lela Florence, Isaac Alan, and August Carlyle Schutte; and Emilia Jayde Pendleton.
Betty is survived by one sister, Judy (Frank) Rodenberg; sister-in-law, Rose Ann Siegele; Aunt Eunice Carlson; as well as many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; husband of 61 years, Carlyle (2016); son, Steven Carlyle (2015); son-in-law, Daniel Lloyd Caya (2004); brother, James Carl (1999).
Visitation was Monday, October 8 from 4-7 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home, Monona, Iowa and one hour prior to the 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 9, funeral services at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona. The Rev. Erika Kielstrup was the officiant, assisted by Betty’s cousin, Rev. Harold McMillin. Burial followed at Monona Cemetery, Monona, Iowa. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, Iowa assisted the family with the arrangements.
