Betty was born on April 30, 1921, in Newton, Iowa, the daughter of Joe and Grace Conn Arbs. She was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton High School.
On August 18, 1940, she was married to Clifford A. Thompson at her parent's home in Newton. The couple moved to Grinnell following Clifford's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The family lived in Grinnell until the early 1960s when they moved to Oakland Acres Golf Course following its construction by Clifford and Cloyd Thompson. From 1968 to 1977, they lived in Taiwan and after Clifford's retirement they lived in Florida. In 1995, they moved to Gilman and in 2004 they lived at Seeland Park in Grinnell.
Even though she fought illness and pain for over 50 years, her inner strength and spirit was an inspiration to her family and many friends. And that spirit made itself apparent when she sang in her beautiful angelic lyric soprano voice.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford Thompson of Seeland Park in Grinnell; two daughters, Kathi Sawyer of Ankeny and Diana Pagel of Grinnell; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and one sister, JoAnn Toedt of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Arbs.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa ~ Added by Mary Hammill Rund 7 July 2023
On August 18, 1940, she was married to Clifford A. Thompson at her parent's home in Newton. The couple moved to Grinnell following Clifford's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The family lived in Grinnell until the early 1960s when they moved to Oakland Acres Golf Course following its construction by Clifford and Cloyd Thompson. From 1968 to 1977, they lived in Taiwan and after Clifford's retirement they lived in Florida. In 1995, they moved to Gilman and in 2004 they lived at Seeland Park in Grinnell.
Even though she fought illness and pain for over 50 years, her inner strength and spirit was an inspiration to her family and many friends. And that spirit made itself apparent when she sang in her beautiful angelic lyric soprano voice.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford Thompson of Seeland Park in Grinnell; two daughters, Kathi Sawyer of Ankeny and Diana Pagel of Grinnell; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and one sister, JoAnn Toedt of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Arbs.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa ~ Added by Mary Hammill Rund 7 July 2023
Betty was born on April 30, 1921, in Newton, Iowa, the daughter of Joe and Grace Conn Arbs. She was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton High School.
On August 18, 1940, she was married to Clifford A. Thompson at her parent's home in Newton. The couple moved to Grinnell following Clifford's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The family lived in Grinnell until the early 1960s when they moved to Oakland Acres Golf Course following its construction by Clifford and Cloyd Thompson. From 1968 to 1977, they lived in Taiwan and after Clifford's retirement they lived in Florida. In 1995, they moved to Gilman and in 2004 they lived at Seeland Park in Grinnell.
Even though she fought illness and pain for over 50 years, her inner strength and spirit was an inspiration to her family and many friends. And that spirit made itself apparent when she sang in her beautiful angelic lyric soprano voice.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford Thompson of Seeland Park in Grinnell; two daughters, Kathi Sawyer of Ankeny and Diana Pagel of Grinnell; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and one sister, JoAnn Toedt of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Arbs.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa ~ Added by Mary Hammill Rund 7 July 2023
On August 18, 1940, she was married to Clifford A. Thompson at her parent's home in Newton. The couple moved to Grinnell following Clifford's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The family lived in Grinnell until the early 1960s when they moved to Oakland Acres Golf Course following its construction by Clifford and Cloyd Thompson. From 1968 to 1977, they lived in Taiwan and after Clifford's retirement they lived in Florida. In 1995, they moved to Gilman and in 2004 they lived at Seeland Park in Grinnell.
Even though she fought illness and pain for over 50 years, her inner strength and spirit was an inspiration to her family and many friends. And that spirit made itself apparent when she sang in her beautiful angelic lyric soprano voice.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford Thompson of Seeland Park in Grinnell; two daughters, Kathi Sawyer of Ankeny and Diana Pagel of Grinnell; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and one sister, JoAnn Toedt of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Arbs.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa ~ Added by Mary Hammill Rund 7 July 2023
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