Betty J. Kline

  Betty (Elizabeth) Joanne Kline, 85, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2016, at home surrounded by her devoted family.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, 1240 66th St., in Windsor Heights. The family will receive guests at the home of John and Cyndi Pederson following the service from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Although she leaves a giant void in our hearts she wouldn’t want people to waste time being upset. Instead, she would insist on a trip to the ice cream store as “chocolate malts cure everything.”

Betty had an impeccable sense of humor, was a friend to all, extremely hard working, compassionate, and always had an infectious positive outlook. Nothing was worth getting her down. “The key to success is you just have to get up one more time than you fall.” There was no problem too big or request too small. Betty never met a challenge she couldn’t handle or a person she wouldn’t help.

Despite her many accomplishments in life, there was nothing more important to her than family. She was a loving matriarch that led with humor, grace, patience and a constant can-do attitude. Her motto was also one of her favorite songs Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be).

Betty was born on Jan. 25, 1931, in Chicago, Ill. to Kenneth and Pearl Hicks. She lived a short life with her parents as they both passed away a year apart in the late 1930s, leaving five small children. Betty was adopted by Adolph and Marvyle Holm, of Des Moines, Iowa, who raised her as their own. Betty attended Windsor Elementary, Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School and earned a Bachelors of Education at Drake University.

On Jan. 29, 1949, she married Kenneth Kline and together they had three children. Ken became a Des Moines Police Officer and Captain; Betty was very active in the Police Auxiliary and the Burial Association. Betty enjoyed teaching kindergarten at Longfellow Elementary for many years until Ken suffered a major heart attack. They moved to Clear Lake in 1972 where she taught elementary school in Ventura, managed The Harbourage Condominiums, sold real estate for Anchor Realty and owned the Regatta Inn Restaurant. Betty was very active in her community and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

In 1978 they moved back to Des Moines where she was a top sales agent at Iowa Realty and property manager at various condominium projects. Betty was a lifelong member of Windsor Heights Lutheran Church and was intensely devoted to her family and friends; the DM Police Dept., her teaching and helping people acquire their dream home.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Kenneth; their daughter, Kristi (Kline) Tritch; her parents, Adolph and Marvyle Holm; a sister, Barbara Huff; and a brother, Doug Ince.

She is survived by her daughter, Cyndi (John) Pederson of Des Moines; her son, Mark (Buffy) Kline, of Santa Fe, N.M.; five granddaughters, Kristian (Brian) Foddrill of Kelley, Iowa, Brooke Kline, of Denver, Colo., Libby (Joe) Crimmings, of Des Moines, Megan Pederson (fiancé John Teter), of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Allison (Andrew) Inhelder, of Ankeny; great-grandchildren, Stanley Inhelder, Jackson and Keagan Crimmings, Carter, Mason, Madison, Olivia, Brea, and Scarlett Foddrill; and two sisters, Dorothy Hildreth and Annalou Vyvial.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the family who will direct the donations to Betty’s favorite charities in her name.

A special thanks to her family and friends and Mercy Hospice who cared for her at home the last few months of her life.