ELBETHA "BETTY" MARIE ENGELTJES, age 94, of Leota died Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton. She was born August 22, 1930, on a farm south of Orange City, IA, to Bert and Jennie (Geurink) Aberson. Betty attended country school until the eighth grade and graduated from Northwestern Academy in Orange City, IA. She then attended a year at Northwestern Junior College. She worked at Duven's Music & Electric before marriage.

Betty married Bernie Engeltjes on March 8, 1957, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City, IA. They farmed five years near Sheldon, IA; and in 1962, moved to the farm three miles North of Leota. In 1997, they retired to Leota.

She was a homemaker, loved to garden, can, crochet, crafts of all kinds, and volunteering at different places.  She was a member of Bethel Reformed Church in Leota, involved in ladies circle, Sunday School and choir. Family was most important to her.

Betty is survived by her three daughters, Brenda (Doug) Van Peursem, Leota; Laura (Gene) Van Peursem, Edgerton; and Sandra (Jamie) Rieck, Pipestone; six grandchildren, Ron (Jodi) Van Peursem, Ryan (Jamie) Van Peursem, Rachelle (Ivan) Vande Griend, Marty (Katie) Van Peursem, Tyler (Becky) Rieck and Darian (Robel) Kelkile; fifteen great-grandchildren, Johnathan (Riley), Jayden, Annika and Maggie Van Peursem; Autumn, Hope, Emary and Ariel Van Peursem; Shibley, Alyda and Reese Vande Griend; Hadley and Crosby Van Peursem; and Riley and Mason Rieck; a great-great-granddaughter, Mara; two sisters, Jeane Van Veldhuizen, Sanborn, IA; and Esther Mae Vanden Berg, Rock Valley, IA; and two sisters-in-law, Gert Aberson, Sioux Center, IA; and Darlene Aberson, Orange City, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bernie on December 5, 2014; son, Mark; a great-granddaughter, Summer Van Peursem; three brothers, John, Gilbert and William Aberson; and three sisters, Wilmina Cleveringa, Shirley Van Veldhuizen and Joan Dykstra.

Visitation will be from 2-4 pm Sunday, December 8 at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota; Funeral will be 10:30 am Monday at the Bethel Reformed Church, in Leota, officiated by Pastors Ron and Ryan Van Peursem. Burial will be in the Leota Community Cemetery.

The Leota Burial Association and the Dingmann Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.