Betty Jane Theilen, 85, Nora Springs

Betty Jane Theilen 85, passed away Monday, November 18, 2024, at the Nora Springs Care
Center, Nora Springs, Iowa, surrounded by her loving family. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Fertile Lutheran Church, 602
West Washington, Fertile, IA; with Pastor Mary Findlay officiating. A viewing will be held one hour prior to
the service at the church. Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Fertile Lutheran Church, in Betty’s memory.

Betty was born into the loving family of Clyde & Helen (Rahfeldt) Miller in Ames, Iowa on October 7, 1939.
She was the 3rd child in the family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters, growing up on the farm and working hard.
Betty graduated from Dows High School in 1957 and went on to La’James College of Beauty for
Cosmetology where she graduated and also taught as an instructor. She worked many years at Cerro Gordo
Beauty Shop and later opened her own salon in her home, Betty’s Beauty Shop, in Mason City. 

Betty married Orville “Dean” Theilen, the Love of Her Life, on May 27, 1967 in Minnesota and they were
together for 56 years. Betty & Dean spent their lives traveling across the U.S. with their children and family;
camping, fishing, and sightseeing. They built homes in Mason City, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Fertile, Iowa and
helped their kids build their own homes too. 

Betty was known for her “gift of gab”, her warm hospitality, and exceptional baking (food is love) – zucchini
bread, chocolate chip cookies, apple bread, and her famous pickles that were beloved by all. She shared all of
this as a member of the Fertile Lutheran Church, Fertile Lutheran Sunshine Club, Ladies Aide, her Quilting
Club and Fertile Garden Club. She enjoyed various projects with her church family. She made it her mission
to know church and community members that were shut-ins or alone, providing her baked goods for them to
enjoy. 

Betty’s true legacy and pride in life are her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren which she spent
many years caring for and raising up, teaching them their heritage and love of family traditions while
hosting many birthdays and Holiday gatherings with Love. She was often heard singing to them “You are
My Sunshine”. 

Betty is survived by her daughter, Sue Neve, of Fertile, son, Paul (Barb) Theilen of Temple, TX,
grandchildren, Brandon (Kaitlin) Theilen, McKenzie Neve, Trevor (Iris) Neve, Mariah Theilen (Chase),
Ryan (Melissa) Rague; great-grandchildren, Lina, Kyler, Bennett, Korbyn along with baby boy Neve and
baby girl Jacobson on the way; siblings Jim (Judy) Miller, Barbara Theilen, Paula Demro, Clyde Jr. (Theresa)
Miller; sisters-in-law, Janie Miller, Millie Schroeder and Clara Howard; along with several Special nieces,
nephews, cousins and friends. 

Betty is preceded in death by her loving husband, Orville “Dean” Theilen; parents, Clyde and Helen Miller,
son, Rick Rague, brothers Bob Miller and Gerald Miller, mother and father-in-law, Albert and Annie Theilen,
brothers and sisters-in-law, Rex Theilen, Ruth (Sherman) Ward, Albert Jr. (Dolly) Theilen, Richard Howard
and Lawrence Schroeder.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 310 First Ave North, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428 641-357-2193