Betty Ruth Strong

Betty R. Strong, 96, of Newman Grove, NE, passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home, Newman Grove, NE.

A Private Family Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at Fellowship Bible Church in Newman Grove, NE with Pastor Todd Wallace officiating. Interment will be at Hope Cemetery, Newman Grove. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00-6:00 p.m., without the family present, at the church. Current Covid-19 DHM's will be followed and masks are requested to be worn at the visitation.

Levander Funeral Home of Newman Grove, NE is in charge of the arrangements.

Betty Ruth Strong, daughter of Perry Osman and Maude Alice (Cowley) McMurry, was born on June 7, 1924 at Hotchkiss, CO. A few days after her birth, Betty's mother passed away. Following her mother's passing, several family friends helped her father with Betty as well as her siblings. After four or five years, Betty's father Perry married Mary Sanderson who had been helping him raise the children. Betty grew up in Crawford, CO and attended school at the Crawford public school, graduating high school in 1943. Her maternal grandparents lived on a farm and on the weekends, Betty would walk there and help her grandmother to clean the house along with other chores.

Following her high school graduation, Betty moved to California and worked there for three months before returning to Crawford. She then moved to Grand Junction, CO where she worked and lived with her sister and brother-in-law.

In January of 1944, Betty met the love of her life, Robert Hiram Strong, who was a soldier from Nebraska that was stationed at Camp Hale, CO. On March 11, 1944 she was united in marriage to Robert. The couple lived in Neligh, NE, Norfolk, NE and Albion, NE before settling in Newman Grove, NE in 1951. Betty, along with raising her children, worked at the Newman Grove Public School lunchroom and at the Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home. Additionally, she helped her husband with janitorial duties at the school.

Betty and Robert were one of the original founding members of the Fellowship Bible Church in Newman Grove. The church was a very important part of her life. An even more important part of Betty's life was her family. All of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild were such a special and important part of her life and each one meant so much to her.

Betty is survived by six children: Robert P. Strong of Newman Grove, NE; Cindy R. (Dan) Aase of Newman Grove, NE; Richard H. Strong of Norfolk, NE; Robertta A. (Dale) Bender of Humphrey, NE; Wayne Todd (Kim) Strong of Gencoe, MN; Timothy L. (Kathy) Strong of Newman Grove, NE; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Robert; two brothers and two sisters; daughter-in-law: Patricia Strong; numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law as well as nieces and nephews.