WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Alberta Betcke, 88, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, Jan. 17, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.
She was born July 26, 1922, in Sioux City, Iowa, a daughter of the late Amos and Elizabeth (Laird) Linafelter.
Mrs. Betcke had resided in Sturgis since 1953 coming from South Dakota. On March 15, 1945, she married Martin Betcke in Allen, Neb. He died Sept. 12, 1991.
She retired from G.F. Business Equipment in Sturgis following 25 years of dedicated employment.
Mrs. Betcke was a member of First Baptist Church in Sturgis and she enjoyed ceramics.
She is survived by a daughter, Rita Underwood of Rochester, Minnesota; a son, Daniel (Connie) Betcke of White Pigeon; five grandchildren, Beth, Kathy, Chad, Desiree and John; eight great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; a brother, Ellis Linafelter of South Sioux City, Neb.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and six brothers.
In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating the life of Alberta Betcke will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. The Rev. James Bender of the First Baptist Church in Sturgis will officiate. Private burial of the ashes will take place at Sturgis Memorial Gardens in Sturgis.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Betcke’s memory consider the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 811 W. Evergreen Ave. Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60642.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
