Betty DeBoer, 81, of Cozad, Nebraska, died Sunday, January 22nd, 2012, at the St. John's Good Samaritan Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
Betty was born June 19th, 1930, at Hastings, Nebraska, to John and Dolly (Morris) Merkel. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1949.

On November 18th, 1951, Betty married Leon DeBoer at Hastings, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Hastings, where they owned and operated the Oasis Lounge and Midwest Distributorship. Their union was blessed with four children, Paula, Mike, Mark and Mitch. In May of 1960, the family moved to rural Cozad, where they farmed north of town. Betty was a very dedicated wife and mother, whose priorities always centered on her family. While in Cozad, Betty had worked at Boerkircher's Furniture Store before opening a restaurant, The Dutch Oven, in the late 1980's at Lexington. In 2007, Betty moved to Meadowlark Pointe where she made many good friends.

Betty was a member of the Modern Homemakers Extension Club, Red Hat Society, the Betty's Club, book club and Bible study. Sewing and crocheting were among some of her many enjoyments.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leon; son Mitch and grandson, Caleb; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ilene and Fred Gengenbach, Bryce DeBoer, Colleene and Eldon Heller.

Survivors include her daughter, Paula and Mike Allen of Lincoln, Nebraska; two sons, Mike and Nancy DeBoer of Kearney, Mark DeBoer of Cozad and special friend, Becky Flodman of Stromsburg, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, Sheila Petersen of Lincoln, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren, Chris (Kim) Allen of Papillion, Nebraska, Maj. Ryan (Ruth) Allen of Stafford, Virginia, Katie (Tim) Diehl of Longmont, Colorado; Dr. Beth DeBoer of Los Angeles, California, Zac DeBoer of Lincoln; Dusty DeBoer of Kearney, Holly (Cory) Parker of Lincoln, April DeBoer of Kearney; Samantha DeBoer of Kearney and Cassie (Jared) Cote of Lincoln; great-grandchildren, Nyah and Keegan Allen, Jameson, Liza and Molly Allen, Rowan Diehl, Myles Parker and Jed Cote; brothers and sisters-in-law, Vivian DeBoer of Colorado Springs, Colorado, George (Beverly) DeBoer of Omaha, Nebraska, Stan (Bonnie) DeBoer of Bertrand, Nebraska, Craig (Nancy) DeBoer of Wichita, Kansas; Val (Bill) Geiger of Cozad and Byron (Jolene) DeBoer of Bertrand; and many other relatives and friends.

Services were held on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012, at 10 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Cozad with Pastor Doug Smith officiating. Burial was in the Cozad Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.

Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.