Betty Barber

Betty J. Barber, 93, of Lincoln, formerly of Grand Island, died Jan. 1, 2024, in Lincoln.

Services will be 11 AM Friday, January 5, 2024 at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Pastor Terry Boshart officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM to the start of the services. Memorials suggested to American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

Betty Jean Thompson was born on July 31, 1930, in Cotesfield, the seventh of nine children born to Walter and Goldie (Bradley) Thompson. She lived in Howard and Greeley Counties and graduated from Scotia High School in 1947. She taught one year in a one-room K-8 school.

Betty married Lynn Clair Barber in North Loup on Jan. 9, 1948. The couple had five children: Sandy, Greg, Brad, Doug and Jeff. The family moved to Grand Island in 1955.

Betty worked at the Bauman Home Nursing Home. She cooked at Northwest High School and the Grand Island Veterans Hospital. She retired in 1995. She moved to Lincoln in 2019 to be near family.

They were members of First Baptist Church in Grand Island, where Betty helped with Cub Scouts. She was a charter member of the Betty Club in Grand Island.

“Grandma Betty” was always a loving and patient wife, mother and grandma. She was a fantastic cook and baked delicious chocolate chip cookies.

She is survived by two sons and their wives, Brad and Pat Barber, and Jeff and Monica Barber; two daughters-in-law, Ada Barber and Patricia Barber; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clair; daughter Sandy Larkin, son-in-law Jim Larkin; sons Greg and Doug; an infant granddaughter, Elizabeth Larkin; a companion, Bill Waters; and her siblings: Kenneth, Avis, Bernice, Cora, Floyd, Donald, Carol and Dale.