Betty Jean Mcdowell

Betty Jean McDowell was born November 8, 1939 in Jefferson, Iowa to Warren Thompson and Verna (Miller) Thompson. She grew up on her family farm in Paton, Iowa. Betty graduated from Boxholm High School in 1958. She married Dean Arnold McDowell "Skip" on August 31, 1964 and the couple was blessed with six daughters, Kim, Barbara, Susan, Deana, Debbie and Tammy. Betty's most important job was being a homemaker and farmers wife. Later in life she worked at Wil-Do Cleaners, Gottschalk Seed and Levan Seed. She started the Girl Scouts group in Perry back in the 70's and was a member of the Camp Fire Girls. Betty liked playing cards, bingo, golfing, fishing, making ceramics, gardening, and camping. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and attending her grandchildren's activities. For 18 years Betty and Skip wintered in Arizona. She was a member of the Eastern Stars, Perry Bible Church, and Master Gardeners. Betty died July 8, 2023 at Kennybrook Village in Grimes, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dean McDowell, daughter Kim Kurtti, sisters Nancy Jo Anderson and Genevieve Thompson, mother-in-law Ida (Paulsen) McDowell, and father-in-law Chester McDowell. She will be dearly missed by her daughters: Barbara Hawbaker (Tony) of Gold Canyon, AZ, Susan Norris (Howard) of Grimes, Deana Lowe (Jeremy) of Des Moines, Debbie McDowell of Ankeny, and Tammy Wirtz (Jeff) of Ogden; seven grandchildren: Amber Ramsey (Jake) of Grimes, Matthew Norris of Dallas Center, Jessica Norris of Ames, Emily Lowe of Des Moines, Maci Lowe of Des Moines, Shannon Safley (Stan) of Ogden, and Samantha Slight (Joe) of Boone; three great-grandchildren: Eli, Payton, and Elsie Safley; brothers: George Thompson (Joann) of Lincoln, NE and Clifford Thompson of Boone; sister-in-law Donna Thompson of Indianola; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. *Visitation will be Tuesday, July 11, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family greeting hours from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2023 also at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Violet Hill Cemetery. Cemetery Details Violet Hill 8th and Park Street Perry, IA 50220 Previous Events Visitation JUL 11. 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CT) Hastings Funeral Home - Perry 1417 Second Street Perry, IA 50220 (515) 465-4691 hastings@minburncomm.net Family Hours 6:00 - 8:00 PM JUL 11 (CT) Hastings Funeral Home - Perry 1417 Second Street Perry, IA 50220 (515) 465-4691 hastings@minburncomm.net Funeral Service JUL 12. 10:00 AM (CT) Hastings Funeral Home - Perry 1417 Second Street Perry, IA 50220 (515) 465-4691 hastings@minburncomm.net