Betty Joyce Dorothy, 85, Pleasanton, died August 27, 2016 at Kearney Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., September 1, 2016 at Horner Lieske McBride and Kuhl Funeral Chapel with Pastor Dean Pofahl officiating. Burial will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements.

Betty Joyce Dorothy was born in the house on the farm at Trenton, Nebraska to Marion James and Bessie LaVonne (Garner) Burkholder on January 26, 1931. Betty grew up in Trenton, Ne attending District 46 country school through 8th grade and graduated from Trenton High School in 1948. When Betty was 9 years old she was in a coma with cerebral spinal meningitis. She was given a 1 in 100 chance of a new medicine “sulfanilamide” working. When she came out of the coma her grandma Garner was there to see her and she said “Grandma”. She took 2 years of Normal Training in High School receiving her State Teachers Certificate. She taught in the Hitchcock County Schools, District 60.

Betty attended Kearney State Teachers college receiving her diploma in 1952. She then taught in the McCook Nebraska Public School at North ward and East ward. On June 20, 1954 Betty married Ray Dorothy and they lived on the family farm south of Pleasanton. They had four children Janet, Leon, Rodney and Joy.

Betty taught Sunday school and Bible School. She was a member of the Republican Party, member of the Hospital Service League, Kearney. She served 20 years on the election board of Rusco Township, Pleasanton. She was a member of the WCTU, served as treasurer and also served on the board of the Mother Hull Home. Her husband Ray passed away May 1992.

She grew up on the farm and loved to be outdoors. She was still mowing her yard with a push mower up until May. She was a very active lady. Betty was well known for her pies. She would make a pie for most funerals or special occasions. She always enjoyed going places with her daughter and granddaughter. She was known to some of her family as Joyce and others it was Betty Joyce.

She is survived by her sons Leon Dorothy, Keokuk, Iowa, Rodney and wife Teresa Dorothy, Pleasanton,, daughter Joy and husband Jim Howerter, Grant, NE, 10 grandchildren, Joshua Howerter, Leona Dorothy Jon Dorothy, Stephanie and husband Nathan Earl, Michael Dorothy, Samantha and husband Anthony Halsted, Michelle and husband Cody Cole, Ben Dorothy, April Dorothy and Kira Dorothy, and 7 great grandchildren and 1 step great grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her husband, daughter Janet (2000), grandsons Seith Howerter (1985) and Alex Dorothy (1998), her parents and 3 brothers Marion Jr., Norman and Gordon.