Betty L Watson

Betty was born on a farm near Lewis, IA on April 22, 1922 to Max & Velma Wissler. Betty was the oldest of Max and Velma’s 3 children; Malcolm and Marion were Betty’s younger brothers. Betty attended Lewis Consolidated School and graduated in 1939, then attended VanSant School of Business in Omaha, NE.

Jobs were very hard to find at that time but Betty was fortunate to secure a position with Harlan Production Credit in Harlan, IA. “I was trained to open a new office in Atlantic, IA.

I wrote the same letter to every farmer in Cass County IA, very boring.”

Betty married Lamond Bramer in 1942 and joined him in North Carolina during World War II as an Army wife. While there she met Ethel Propst, another Army wife, and they maintained a 70 year friendship.

Betty & Lamond had 4 children: Diane, Keith, Kathy, and Sherri. Lamond and Betty were divorced in 1952. After the divorce, Betty worked in the offices of the Popcorn Processing Plant and McCauley Insurance in Atlantic, IA.

Betty married Max E. Watson in 1958 and her family grew to include two wonderful step-daughters, Barbara and Rebecca. In 1969, Betty and Max moved to Lincoln, NE after Max was transferred there to open new sales territory for his job with Tones Spices; Betty worked for Dobson Insurance. Betty retired in 1976. Max and Betty travelled coast to coast and across oceans to explore our country and visit their large circle of family and friends. They enjoyed trips to AZ for Cubs spring training, which included lots of Cubs games and golfing with friends and family.

Betty & Max were married for 40 years. Max passed in 1998. In September 2003 Betty moved from Lincoln, NE to Castle Rock, CO to be near some family members.

Betty is survived by her 5 children and stepchildren, Keith (Diana) Bramer of Castle Rock, CO; Kathy (Jim) Bowers of Fort Collins, CO; Sherri Bramer of Wahoo, NE; Barbara (Mike) Helland of Germantown MD; Rebecca (Jim) Burgart of Council Bluffs, IA; 7 Grandchildren, Todd (Karen) Bramer, Dena (Rhett) Hartman, Matt Helland, Katie (William) Helland, Jon (Brianna) Burgart, Justin (Karen) Burgart, & Jason (Melissa) Burgart; 15 Great Grandchildren, Brother Marion (Carolyn) Wissler; many nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, infant daughter Diane, her husband Max, Brother Malcolm and Sister-in-Law Lela. Brothers-in-Law and Sisters-in-Law in the Watson family…Helen (Dell) Taylor, Dorothy (Cecil) Malone, Cleone (Mac) Penwell, Ronald (Bette) Watson, Mae (Willard) Frazell, Maurice (Mary) Watson, Richard (Gloria) Watson, Joyce (Ron) McConnelee, Joann (Jim) Kenefick, Georgia (Howard) Shartner, and Wayne Watson.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Castle Rock on Wednesday, April 19 at 11am. https://www.fumccr.org/

A graveside service will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis, IA at a later date.

(Take Exit 8 off Hwy #6 to Lewis Cemetery.) Betty provided the directions! She was unequivocally very thorough!