Betty Poppe

Betty Ann Poppe, the daughter of Arthur and Anna Matilda “Tillie” (Harmes) Vorderstrasse, was born on October 30, 1932, near Stoddard, Nebraska. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and graduated from Chester High School.

Betty was united in marriage to Alvin Fredrick William Poppe on December 11, 1955, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Chester. To this union of 55 years, three children were born, Daniel, Steven and Ruth.

Betty was a very active member of the St. John Lutheran Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher, church organist, choir leader, and member of the Ladies Aide. She also enjoyed sewing, needle work and crocheting in her free time.

Being a mother and farm wife were the most important parts of her life, and she could always be found side by side with Alvin on the farm, driving grain trucks and tractors, fixing meals, home plumbing repairs…there was no project she wouldn’t tackle.

Betty passed away with her family at her side, on February 4, 2021, at the age of 88 years, 3 months and 5 days.

She is preceded in death by her husband Alvin, her parents, son-in-law Dave Rauert, grandson Opie Rauert, sister Lorene Jagels and her husband Raymond, brothers-in-law Elwin Schroeder and Marvin Monter, Norman Poppe, Willis Poppe, Herman Dutton, sisters-in-law Leora Grafelmann and her husband Clarence, Luella Kapperman and her husband Fred.

Betty will be forever remembered by her children; son Daniel Poppe and friend Melody of Chester, son Steven Poppe and his wife Cindy of Chester, daughter Ruth Gibbs and her husband Russell of Grand Island; grandchildren, Shawna Bowers and her husband Kyle, and their children Lane, Micah and Reagan; Rachael Buck and her husband Allen, and their children Vivian, Everett and Evelyn; Nathan Poppe and his wife Lia and their daughter Henleigh; and Benjamin Rauert and his wife Lyndsey, and their son to be born soon. Betty is also survived by her sisters, Marilyn Schroeder and Elaine Monter, and sisters-in-law LaVila Poppe, Helen Poppe, and Bernice Dutton.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 9th, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, with burial following at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, east of Chester.

Visitation will be on Monday, February 8th, 2021, from 9am – 8pm, with family greeting friends from 6pm – 8pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville.

Memorials are requested to Chester Rescue or Heartland Lutheran High School, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville assisted the Poppe family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com