Betty J. Sperry, 88
Betty Jane Sperry was born on Dec. 1, 1919, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the house her maternal grandfather built. She was the second of two children born to Irvin Clifford Noonan and Ollie Marie (Cratsenberg) Noonan.
When Betty was one year old her mother, Ollie, died at age 26 of cancer of the breast. Ollie’s dying request to her husband Irvin was that her mother, Anna (Schilling) Cratsenberg, be allowed to raise Betty and her six year old sister, Darlene.
Betty graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1937. On July 2, 1939, she married John Floyd Sperry at Central Methodist Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Following John’s graduation in 1950 from Dental School at the University of Minnesota, he and Betty moved to LeRoy, Minn., where John established his dental practice. Betty started working as a part time receptionist in John’s office. In 1958 John and Betty moved to Austin; and in 1974 Betty successfully completed courses and clinical examinations that resulted in her being licensed by the State of Minnesota as a Certified and Registered Dental Assistant. All together, John and Betty worked together in the practice of dentistry for nearly 50 years.
Betty was an active member of the Southeastern Dental Assistants Association and past president of the Southeastern Dental Association Auxiliary. In 2008 Betty was honored for her 50 years of membership in Chapter CU of PEO. She was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 50 years and served as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon and Trustee.
Betty and her husband John enjoyed many summer getaways at their lake home on Lake Ida in Alexandria and winter retreats to Coco Beach, Fla. Betty and John also enjoyed numerous foreign trips, including such destinations as: England, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe, Spain, Morocco, Cuba, China and Japan. Many of these trips were shared with their dear friends Neil and Betty Munro.
Betty was physically active and enjoyed roller skating, golf and tennis. She was also an enthusiastic Bridge player.
She is survived by her loving sons and daughter-in-law, John Sperry, Eden Prairie, Minn., Stephen (Gretchen) Sperry, Litchfield, Minn.; grandson, Daniel Sperry, Las Vegas, Nev.; granddaughter, Caroline VanSloun, Chaska, Minn.; step-granddaughters, Tara (Ryan) Gundrum, Grafton, Wis., Briana Anderson, Brooklyn Park, Minn.; her very dear nieces, the daughters of her deceased sister, Darlene.
A memorial service will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. You are invited to greet the Sperry family in the church parlor immediately following the memorial service. There will also be a time for food and fellowship in the Fellowship Hall. Memorials may be made in Betty Sperry’s name to the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary of Austin is in charge of arrangements.