Betty L. Stearley

Betty L. Stearley, 90, of Grand Island formerly of Shelton, died Thursday, April 2, 2020, at Heritage at Sagewood in Grand Island. Due to Covid 19 restrictions a private family service will be held at the Shelton Cemetery. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be sent to the family in care of Apfel Funeral Home to be designated at a later date.

Betty Lou was born in Shelton, NE on January 13, 1930 to Victor and Ada (Mann) Mortensen. She was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Shelton on December 15, 1974. Betty grew up in Shelton, graduating in 1948 from Shelton High School.

On May 28, 1949, Betty married Lyle F. Stearley in Kearney, NE. They lived there 70+ years together in Shelton. This marriage was blessed with three children: Jerry, Jo, and Jeff. Betty worked at Baldwin Filters in Kearney from 1975 until she retired in 1991.

Betty was a very devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved dancing, gardening, traveling, watching football, and volunteering at church, but her greatest passion was being with her family. She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary 297 and was a former member of Ellen Rebekah Lodge 306.

Left to mourn her departure is her beloved husband: Lyle of Grand Island; son, Jerry (Pam) Stearley of Lincoln, NE; daughter, Jo (Steve) Taggart of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren: Robin Stearley, Amy Stearley both of Lincoln, NE, Bobbi (Jon) Potthoff of Stratton, NE, Jennifer Wiese of Fort Collins, CO, Kyle (Krissy) Taggart of Fort Morgan, CO; great grandchildren: Hailey and Hannah Wiese, Julia, Jocelyn, and Jeff Potthoff, Isaac Callicoatt, Kyleigh and Rhyan McCollum-Taggart; sisters: Francis Shafer of Englewood, CO, Mary Cardinal of Grand Island, NE, Anna Crumrine of Ogallala, NE; and lots of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Jeff F. Stearley; sisters: Lois Miller and Pauline Lemburg; brothers: Edward, George, and John Mortensen.