Betty J. Welsch Obituary
Betty June Welsch Kemper died peacefully at 4:13 a.m., Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Tabitha in Crete.
She was born on October 6, 1925, to Harry and Irma (Belka) Welsch on their rural Milford farm, one mile
east of West Blue Church. Her sister, Marjorie was born in 1930, and brother, Bob in 1939. She attended
a one-room grade school in Camden and graduated from Crete High School in 1942. After briefly
attending the Lincoln School of Commerce, Betty took secretarial and cashiering position with the
Lincoln Hatchery, using her first paycheck to buy her father a new suit.
On October 23, 1945, Betty was married to Carl F. Kemper at the West Blue Church, where her greatgrandfather
J.P. Welsch had served as pastor for many years. In 1954, after farming for nine years, the
couple moved to Elmhurst, Illinois with their three children, Eunice (6), Beverly (4) and Tom (6 months),
where Carl began classes at Elmhurst College. Baby Tim was born in 1955. In 1957, the family moved to
Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri, where Carl studied to become an ordained
minister in the United Church of Christ.
The family relocated several times over the following years, serving churches in Council Bluffs and
West Burlington in Iowa; and Clay Center, Omaha, and Wisner/Beemer in Nebraska. Retirement in 1984
brought Betty and Carl back to Crete--living in town for seven years, then moving to the John Kemper
family farm on the West Blue River.
Betty and Carl lived their belief that Christian Stewardship included taking good care of the land. Carl
was among the first Nebraskans to plow contours and raise nitrogen-fixing soybeans back in the early
1950's. In the 1990's, Carl and Betty developed a proprietary strain of red popcorn, farmed it organically,
and marketed it as "The Original Nebraska Red Popcorn." Together, they developed and improvised ways
to process, package, and market their product, doing much of the work by hand.
Although he was officially retired from the ministry, Carl agreed to serve interim pastorates in Cortland
and Falls City, and Betty was always with him. Betty and Carl also served in various capacities with the
Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ. They were active members at UCC First
Congregational in Crete. They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, New Zealand, Israel, Jackson, Wyoming, and
more.
In the late 1990's, Carl began showing signs of of dementia. Betty lovingly cared for him at home until
it became impractical to continue. Carl was placed in memory care at the Crete Manor in 2000.
At that time, Betty moved back to Crete to live at Doane Village--just a few doors down from her
daughter Eunice's family. She grew to be great friends with her neighbors there over the next 12 years.
She chauffeured friends who no longer could drive to doctor's appointments and community events.
Betty continued to be active in her church and did volunteer work for Meals on Wheels and the Saline
County Election Commission. She made regular visits to the Nursing Home at the old Crete Hospital to
help friend Beth, who suffered from MS, manage her correspondence. She started a women's investment
club and swam regularly at the Butler Gymnasium pool at Doane College. She enjoyed traveling to
Czechoslovakia, with a group sponsored by Doane College.
She became an active member of the Crete Historical Society, and served on the board of the Benne
Museum. She helped out her Aunt Toots and Uncle Tom Kuzelka when needed, and served as PR for the
Kuzelka estate after Tom passed in 2007.
She continued to sew, knit and crochet, creating beautiful afghans for each of her grandchildren upon
their graduation from high school. She taught others to knit and crochet. She learned to use a PC
computer, and enjoyed corresponding via email and Facebook. She spent many hours collecting
information and compiling genealogical records for the Welsch, Belka, Benne and Kemper families. She
enjoyed hosting Kemper family gatherings at Doane Village's common kitchen and dining area. It was
very important to her to gather as many of her family members as possible—especially at Christmastime.
Betty was a devoted and beloved sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and
friend. She known for her optimism, her ready and radiant smile, her silvery white hair, her generosity
and her willingness to help others.
She was a source of endless entertainments for her grandchildren, who learned from her that work
could be fun. She was a great cook, and taught her children and grandchildren to bake Hoska, Kolaches,
and other family favorites.
Betty suffered a stroke in January 2012 and underwent physical and occupational therapy at Madonna
in Lincoln for two months. But her vision was permanently damaged as well as her ability to read and
recall names of people and things, and she could no longer drive a car. In April, Betty moved into
Tabitha's Garden Square Assisted Living Center in Crete.
While there, she enjoyed knitting scarves and baby blankets, clipping coupons to send to military
families overseas, and joining group activities. She attended Adult Sunday School and Worship Services
at her own church most Sundays, and participated in special gatherings with the McArdle, Clark, Kemper,
and Vosta families.
In September of 2017, Betty made one last move to the Douglas House of Tabitha in Crete. She began
receiving hospice care in January. Early in the morning of March 2, Betty fell and broke her femur. She
was made comfortable by the Tabitha and Tabitha Hospice nurses, and was surrounded by family, passing
peacefully at 4:13 a.m. on Saturday, March 4th.
Betty will be truly missed, and fond memories of her will be shared in the days ahead and cherished
for years to come. She will be with us in spirit as we continue to meet life's challenges and celebrate life's
joys. As Betty herself wrote, "Enjoy each day and live life to the fullest, nurturing your faith so you can
enjoy the memories and handle whatever comes your way." (Quoted from "The Joys of Reaching Old Age" by
Betty J. Kemper, 2002.)
Betty was preceded in death by her younger brother, Robert Harry Welsch; husband, Carl Ferdinand
Kemper; and son, Timothy George Kemper.
Those who remain to remember Betty include her sister, Marjorie Joan Welsch Manglitz of Lincoln;
daughters, Eunice June(Patrick) McArdle of Crete, and Beverly Ann(Douglas) Clark of Lincoln; son,
Thomas John (Bonnie) Kemper of rural Crete; seventeen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., April 22, 2017 at UCC First Congregational in Crete,
luncheon to follow. An additional Memorial Gathering will commence at 2:30 p.m. at West Blue Church.
Memorials may be designated for the West Blue Cemetery Association or family choice.
Google Map Directions from UCC First Congregational Church, Crete Ne to West Blue Church:
https://goo.gl/maps/inYL6XeNniS2
Google Map Directions from I-80 Milford exit to West Blue Church: I-80:
https://goo.gl/maps/LQeTK1vC2FQ2
Condolences may be mailed to 6300 Bridle Ln, Lincoln NE 68516, or sagediva@yahoo.com