Betty L Makelin

A memorial service for Betty L. Makelin, 91, of Madison, NE will be Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church.  Pastor Donna Goltry will officiate. Lunch will be served after the service in the church basement. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you donate to Fairview Cemetery Association c/o Jo Waara, 105 N Orchard, Madison. Resseguie Funeral Home in Madison is in charge of the arrangements.

She passed away April 14, 2020 in her home surrounded by family.

Betty Lou Knull was born June 16, 1928 to Burnham and Mary (Ganser) Knull in rural Enola, NE. She attended country school in Enola, advancing in grade until she graduated from Madison High School at the age of fifteen. After graduation, she worked at Franc’s beauty salon in Norfolk, apprenticing and passed her state boards to practice as a beautician. She also worked at Norfolk Daily News as a type setter.  While working in Norfolk, Betty met a young man, Glenn William Makelin, at the Oak Island dance pavilion. They later married and the result of this blessed union came six children. They raised the children on a farm south of Madison where Betty also worked at Prengers in Norfolk, Klub 81 in Humphrey, and at Madison Beauty Spot in Madison.

Upon retiring from farming, Betty and Glenn moved to Madison. During the summer months would live along the Cog Train Railway on the south slope of Pike’s Peak where they were caretakers for a power plant for the City of Colorado Springs. They did this for ten years.

Betty has been active at her church, Trinity United Methodist Church and the Senior Center in Madison, folding newsletters, delivering meals on wheels, and helping with socials. Her joy was playing cards with her family and friends.

She is survived by her sister, Mildred Becker of Indianapolis IN; children, Marilee (Jo) Waara of Madison NE, Glenn (Bill) of Lincoln NE, Rebecca (Lich) Makelin of Norfolk NE, Francis “Frank” and wife, Rhonda, of Oroville CA, Terry and wife, Mary, of Freeman SD, and Robert “Rob” and his wife, Ivy, formerly of Beijing, China; fourteen grandchildren; forty great-grandchildren; and fourteen great-great grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces, Knull relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Karl (Jr) and his wife, Nadine; her sister, Margie Nielsen; brother, Robert in infancy; and grandson, Patrick Makelin.

Betty was loved by a great many and will be sorely missed but is now in her Lord Jesus Christ’s arms in her heavenly home.

 Service Information