Betty Jean Coleman

Betty Jean Coleman, 88, formerly of Petersburg, NE passed away Monday, December 26, 2022, at Emerald Nursing and Rehab Columbus in Columbus, NE.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2022, at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE with Rev. Mary Avidano officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Petersburg, NE. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE.

In lieu of flowers, Betty Jean's wishes were to make a donation to the American Cancer Society or nicely bless someone you see in need. Family would even suggest a donation for mental health research for cures.

Betty Jean (Happ) Coleman, daughter of Charles R. and Alice M. (Cole) Happ was born December 31, 1933, in Evanston, Illinois. She received her elementary education at Sunset Ridge in Northfield, Illinois; middle school at Skokie Jr. High in Winnetka, Illinois, while finishing out at New Trier High, also in Winnetka.

On January 26, 1952, Betty Jean married John Mathew Arends. To this union were born John Charles, Catherine Alice, William Edward, Fredrick Thomas, and Darlene (Dolly) Bernadine. They divorced in November 1963 in LA County, California. In April of 1966, Betty Jean and the children moved back to Illinois until August of 1968 when they moved to Petersburg, NE. Betty Jean worked at the Petersburg locker and later accepted a job at the Boone County Community Hospital in Albion. For most of the 14 years employed there, she served as Head of Housekeeping.

On August 26, 1972, Betty Jean married Arno C. Siebler. After this marriage ended in divorce, Betty Jean married Robert Lee Coleman on June 2, 1990.

In August of 1980 Betty Jean gave her life to Jesus while taking radiation treatments for breast cancer. Soon after Betty Jean got baptized. Even going through a horrible disease of dementia, she didn't forget the name of Jesus!

In January of 2019 Betty Jean moved to Albion to be closer to family for care until entering Emerald Nursing and Rehab Care in Columbus in March of 2021.

Betty Jean is survived by her son: Fred of North Bend, NE; daughters: Cathy (Robin) Fletcher of Rock Springs, WY; Dolly (Jim) Kalvelage of Albion, NE; 18 grandchildren: Cherie Fletcher (Mark) Stephenson of Wyoming; Karin Arends (Clarence) Collins of Texas; Michael (BreAnn) Arends of Columbus, NE; Dusty (Chelsea) Fletcher of Wyoming; Chad (Shellee) Arends of Columbus, NE; Cody (Heather) Fletcher of Wyoming; Joshua Arends of Norfolk, NE; Jennifer Arends of Columbus, NE; Westly (Jen) Kalvelage of Colorado; Kristopher (Amie) Kalvelage of Albion, NE; Rebecca Arends (Mike) Flannagan of Texas; Mathew (Bailey) Kalvelage of Illinois; Jessica Arends of South Dakota; Robert (Amanda) Arends of Lincoln, NE; Denardra Arends of Scotts Bluff, NE; Kesia Arends of Omaha, NE; Urliah Arends of Kansas; Princess Arends of Omaha, NE; 44 great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; two sons: William Edward and John Charles.