Betty Clark

Betty Janice Clark, 90, of Tama, Iowa and formerly of Independence, Iowa passed away on Friday, September 10, 2021 at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama, Iowa. Betty will be laid to rest next to her parents on Saturday, October 2, 2021, 12:00 p.m., at Jordan’s Grove Cemetery in rural Central City, Iowa with Pastor Warren Riley officiating. The family will honor Betty’s memory with a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 2, 2021. The Celebration of Life will be held at the Tama Civic Center, 305 Siegel Street, Tama, Iowa from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Betty Janice Wilkinson was born on July 12, 1931 to Raymond H. and Thelma J (Fagel) Wilkinson in Whittier, Iowa. Betty attended school in Rowley. She graduated from Lamont High School in 1949. On April 16, 1950 she married Frank V. Clark in Independence, Iowa. Frank and Betty made their home in Independence where they had 5 children. They later divorced.

Betty worked many jobs in her lifetime. She held jobs as a waitress, a cook, a bartender, a police dispatcher, and a road construction equipment operator. She retired from McFate’s Garbage Service in Tama, where she was owner & operator. Betty’s hobbies were Bingo, knitting, crocheting, sewing and reading western novels. She loved to spend time with her family and enjoyed being outside.

Surviving Betty are 4 children – daughter, Deborah (Joe Kunz) of Saratoga, WY, daughter, Merna (Clyde) Bearden of Tama, son, Lonnie Clark of Tama, and son, Robin (Tracy) Clark of Tama, 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, her sister, Peg Cox of Tama and sister-in-law, Dorothy Wilkinson of Grundy Center, IA. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Jamie Brislawn, granddaughter, Mindey Barker, grandson, Perry Skraastad, siblings, Jane, James and Richard, sister-in-law Janice, and companion, Kenneth Mc Fate.

Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo, is assisting the family with arrangements.