Bette J. Dilley
Bette J. Dilley
September 5, 1925 – March 2, 2015
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 89
Bette J. Dilley, 89, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, March 2, 2015, at the Knoxville Community Hospital in Knoxville. She was born September 5, 1925, in Keokuk County, the daughter of Cloyd and Mary Morrow Mateer.
Bette graduated from What Cheer High School with the class of 1942. On September 5, 1945, she was united in marriage to Ernest Dilley, at the parsonage of the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. Ernest died December 9, 2013.
Early on, Bette worked for the State of Iowa at the Unemployment Office as a counselor. In 1967, she earned her degree in Criminology from Drake University, and then took a job as a parole officer, and after 19 years in that role Bette retired.
Bette gave selflessly of her time and talent to many organizations. She was currently serving as President of the Mahaska County Democrats, President of the Delta American Legion Auxiliary Unit 485, former president of Tri-County Alumni Association; volunteered for over 20 years with the Iowa State Fair Information Program, Sweet Corn Serenade, the Keokuk County fairgrounds in What Cheer, Dixie’s Country Store in Delta and the Lighted Christmas Parade in Oskaloosa.
Bette was awarded guest of honor at the Oskaloosa Main Street Holiday Luncheon 2014 and was previously awarded the Governor’s Ambassador Program.
She was also active with the Blue Ribbon Foundation at the State Fair, including the “corn dog check-off” for the fair. Bette and Ernest also took great pride in supporting Iowa Public Television.
Throughout life Bette enjoyed bowling, and attended nationals for 30 years, and served as the president for many leagues in Oskaloosa (adult and youth), and served on the executive committee. She was inducted into the Oskaloosa Bowling Hall of Fame in 1979. Bette believed in giving back to the organizations of which she was involved, and was a member of the Delta Christian Church.
She and Ernest enjoyed traveling and the many trips they took with family members.
Bette’s family would like to thank the staff at Knoxville Hospital and their hospice group who made her last days comfortable.
Her family includes nieces and nephews: Dixie Shipley of Delta, Beverly (& Dale) McBeth of Sioux Falls, Linda (& Don) Carey of Kewanee, Illinois, Roger (& Kim) Strong of Delta, and Greg (& Kim) Moore of Delta; many great and great-great nieces and nephews; and close friends, Randy and Sharon Sytsma of Oskaloosa.
Besides her husband, Bette was preceded in death by her parents; one brother in infancy; two sisters: Inez Moore-Fielder and Wilma Strong-Moore; and two nephews: Robert Moore and M.L. “Tobe” Shipley.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 6, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Ralph Sprunk officiating.
Burial will be in the Springfield Cemetery, north of Delta. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin in the Bates Funeral Chapel on Thursday after 12 noon, and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 6 – 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to Iowa Public Television or Delta Christian Church.