Donald Dean Betts, 76, of Plainview NE

Donald Dean Betts, age 76, of Plainview, Nebraska passed away Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, NE.  Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 19th, at the Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Plainview with Rev. Donna Runge officiating.  Military Honors conducted by the Plainview American Legion & VFW along with honors conducted by Plainview Fire & Rescue.  Burial with Military Honors by the Lyons American Legion & VFW will be in the Lyons Cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon.  Visitation will be on Sunday, January 18th, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ashburn Funeral Home in Plainview.  Ashburn Funeral Home in Plainview in charge of these arrangements.

Don was born November 7, 1938, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Robert and Frieda (Sass) Betts, they lived in the Elk City area and then moved to Lyons, NE where they made their home for many years. He graduated from Lyons High School in 1957, left a few days later for the Navy and served his Country where he was stationed the USS Norton Sound with an Honorable Discharge in March, 1961, and then served in the US Naval Reserve until May, 1963. He married Deanna Hultquist of Oakland, NE on June 25, 1961. Don and Deanna made their home in Lyons for 15 years where they welcomed 2 children to their family, Brenda and Brian. Don worked with his father at Betts Feed and Produce and also worked at Burt County Implement/Lubker Brothers. He was involved in the Lyons Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Lyons Jaycee’s, Masons, Lions Club and was a Charter member of Bethany Lutheran Church.

In 1976, Don and his family moved to Plainview, NE where he was a salesman for Cooper Feeds/Master Mix, he then worked for NFIB. After an accident in 1986 and three major back surgeries, he took an early retirement. During his time in Plainview, he served on the Volunteer Fire Department, VFW, Legion Club, was active in Good Sam’s Meadowlark Camping Club, was a Fire Arson Investigator, a Civil Defense Director in Plainview and was also the Pierce County Civil Defense Director. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Sr. and Frieda; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sherman and Zella Hultquist; his wife, Deanna; brother, Robert Jr.; brother-in-law’s, Kermit Moseman and Laurence Hultquist, sister-in-law, Donna Hultquist, and niece’s Dynette (Betts) Smith and Pamela (Hultquist) Tate.

He is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Russ) Gausman and granddaughters, Breanna & Renee Gausman, and great granddaughter, Kinslee Shaw, all of Lincoln, NE; son Brian (Allison) Betts, granddaughter Devyn Betts & grandson Colin Betts, all of St. Paul, MN; sister-in-law’s, Lorelei (Jim) Wickstrom of Omaha, NE and Virginia Betts of Edwards, MO; brother-in-laws, Bill Hultquist of Oakland, NE, Dewey (Myra) Hultquist of Lyons, KS, Harold (Leona) Hultquist of Fremont, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.