Betty Jean Janssen

Betty Jean Janssen (Long) of Des Moines, Iowa, left this world on Wednesday, March 26, 2024. She was surrounded by loved ones, both family and friends in her final days, just two weeks after her 93rd birthday.

Betty Long was born on March 9, 1931 in Indianola, Iowa to Orville Long and Mary Charlotte Padget. She grew up with her parents and 5 siblings, Darlene, Dorothy, Marley, Harlan and Dwight.

On September 4, 1950, she married the love of her life, Harold E. Janssen (1931-2021) and devoted herself to being a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Betty and Harold purchased Krumm Sales & Service, an outdoor power equipment company that became an icon of the Des Moines area for over 55 years. There, Betty played an integral role in managing  the business. She became the gatekeeper of administrative duties such as bookkeeping, payroll, customer service, keeping the showroom sparkling, and her business partner (Harold) and their three sons in line. She was a loving and supportive mother to her boys, Pat, Mike, and Terry Janssen.

Betty and Harold’s second home was at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri where they enjoyed water activities with family and friends for decades. Until her seventies, you would find Betty floating on a mat in the water, or skiing behind their Century Coronado boat. She was always warm and welcome to anyone who stopped by, and loved hosting by whipping up baked goods. Her friends would describe her as smart, kind, graceful, and always welcomed them with a little humor and sass. Betty was a firm believer that you should eat your dessert first, a clean kitchen is a happy one, if you’re bored you should go to bed, and anything can be solved over a bowl of ice cream or a little sunshine. She wore many hats in her lifetime, both figuratively and literally. A festive hat was her way to celebrate life on any given holiday or just a Tuesday afternoon,  the more flowery, glittery and bigger the better.

Betty is survived by her sons, Patrick, Michael (Sharon), and Terry (Kathy) Janssen; Grandchildren, Nicole (Josh) Colwill, Matthew (Catie) Janssen, Madisen (Michael) Olson, Zachary Janssen, Jennifer (Ryan) Berning, Jonathan Janssen and Katelynn Janssen; and great-grandchildren, Camden Berning, Carter Berning and Grace Janssen.

Betty will be deeply missed by her family and friends. To honor her life, a visitation will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory in Urbandale, Iowa. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 13, at 10:00 am, with a luncheon to follow at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

The family would like to extend their heart-filled thanks to the staff, care-givers and friends at Morningstar Assisted Living in West Des Moines, Iowa.