Betsy Howard
Betsy Howard
Betsy Howard
May 27, 1936 – February 11, 2015
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 78
Betsy Howard, 78, of Oskaloosa died Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at her home in Oskaloosa. She was born Wednesday, May 27, 1936 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, the first child of Leland and Elizabeth (Baxter) Coulon.
Betsy and her sisters, Mary and Gretchen, had a wonderful childhood growing up on the Baxter family farm in What Cheer. At the age of 15 Betsy met her soulmate Ken Howard in school.
Betsy graduated from What Cheer High School with the Class of 1953. She then attended Simpson College where she received her teaching certificate in 1955. On December 22, 1956, Betsy and Ken were united in marriage in What Cheer.
Early on, Betsy taught at Grant Elementary in Oskaloosa. In 1957 they moved to Michigan, where she taught grade school until 1970, when they moved back to Oskaloosa to be closer to their families.
Betsy then attended William Penn College to complete her degree for teaching in Iowa. She taught in Sigourney for one year, then taught 2nd grade at Jefferson Elementary in Oskaloosa until her retirement in 1999. Betsy always felt that she was meant to teach at Jefferson and loved her time with the students.
She was known for her creativity in teaching and bringing subjects to life for the hundreds of students she served. To this day, previous students express their gratitude for her guidance, patience and compassion during their early years in school, and for making a significant difference in their lives.
Betsy was very involved in the Oskaloosa Community Theater, performing in many musicals, such as Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, and Nights of Music, in venues around town.
Betsy enjoyed volunteering at the free clinic of the Mahaska Health Partnership for several years, and was a member of P.E.O. Chapter NN for more than 50 years. She was a long-time member of Central United Methodist Church, where she loved serving in the church choir, and singing for funerals, weddings and baptisms.
She and Ken made it a priority to attend their children’s and grandchildren’s activities, including chaperoning the Oskaloosa High School marching band, and serving in the booster club. Betsy was not shy in letting game officials know if she thought they were being unfair to her kids or their team.
One her greatest personal accomplishments was completing RAGBRAI at the age of 50. Despite falling off her bike the very first day of training and skinning her knees and chin, she eventually achieved her goal and cried when she dipped her front tire in the Mississippi at the completion of the ride. Due to her fear of falling, Betsy used only one pedal toe clip and was known as “One Clip Bikin’ Mama”.
Betsy will be remembered by family and friends for her wide smile, bright eyes, fun-loving approach to life, sense of humor and loving and generous nature. She brought 100% of her energy to everything she did. Her greatest joy was gathering together with her family and friends, to whom she treasured!
Her family includes her husband of almost 60 years, Kenneth Howard of Oskaloosa; two sons: Scott (& Rhonda) Howard of Oskaloosa and Steve (& Angela) Howard of Grinnell; a daughter, Beth (& Frank) Kminek of Oskaloosa; seven grandchildren: Josh and Jairus Howard, Joe, Zoe, Wil, and Hope Kminek, and Seth Howard; two great grandchildren, Morgan and Maddie Howard; and two sisters: Mary (& Garold) Heslinga, and Gretchen Updegraff.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
As was her wish her body has been cremated and no visitation is planned at this time.
Bates Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
