Betty Berka

Betty Lorraine (Marolf) Hargens Berka was born August 14, 1924, to Roy and Lillian (Berry) Marolf in Denison, Iowa. She attended school in Denison. Betty married Earl Hargens in October of 1942 in Missouri. Earl was in the Army and the couple lived in California while Earl was in basic training. He was then sent off to England and then to Belgium. Betty moved back to Iowa. To this union a daughter Barbara was born. Earl was killed in 1945 in Belgium. Betty married James H. Berka in 1946 at the Lutheran Church in Denison. To this union one son was born James L. The couple lived in Denison and Storm Lake until 1952 the couple moved to Dunlap where she worked for Moore Brothers Grocery Store, the Dunlap Reporter and IGA. In 1970 the couple moved to Fremont, Nebraska. James died on August 27, 1979. Betty returned to Dunlap in 2008.
Betty was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Dunlap. She was also active in the Senior Center in Dunlap. She was quite a seamstress and thoroughly enjoyed her weekly Bridge Club gatherings and the varieties of hot tea that was served. She also enjoyed baking.
Betty died on Saturday, February 6, 2016, at the Dunlap Specially Care at the age of 91 years, five months and 23 days.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, Earl Hargens and James Berka; two sisters, Barbara Vanlandingham and Dorthy Stier, and one great grand-daughter, Kylee Brinn Bishop. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara and her husband Ron Bishop of Tucson, Arizona, their son, Michael (Melissa) Bishop and their children Logan and Lincoln also of Tucson, AZ; their daughter Melissa Bishop of Woodbrige, Virginia; her son, Rev. James L. Berka and his wife Marilyn of Dunlap, Iowa their son James Paul (Karen) Berka of St. Paul, Minnesota and their son James Edward; their son Joel Berka of Omaha, Nebraska and their daughter Charon (Zach) Becker of Lincoln, Nebraska and many other relatives and friends.