Betty Rose Sheaff

A LIFE WELL LIVED; A LIFE TO EMULATE! Betty Rose (Umberger) Sheaff shared many gifts to serve her family, community, country, and her Lord. Throughout her lifetime she enjoyed sitting with others, acquaintance and strangers alike, taking special care to learn their names and various interests. Betty had a remarkable ability to find ways to make connections amongst others which made all those around her feel valued and loved. She gave so many the gift of her time. Betty’s gift of time allowed her to treat others with true dignity as she remembered each name and what made that person unique for years to come.

Betty’s commitment to study her faith, even into her late nineties, was a passion. She loved to study the Bible and cataloged verses that were important on her computer. Imagine for just a moment a woman born one hundred years ago logging her spiritual quest on her computer. She was a modern faith-filled woman. Being a true disciple, Betty then shared particular passages that touched her soul with hundreds of people at Christmas, Easter, and whenever the Holy Spirit moved her. Many relatives and friends around the world looked forward to her special messages. Betty’s spiritual postcards will be missed. She shared God’s love within her communities of Lincoln, South Bend, Louisville, and Humboldt, Nebraska.

Betty was born to Floyd and Florence (Johnnie) Umberger on January 16, 1922, on a farm in rural Lincoln. Following her father’s accident, when Betty was three her father could no longer farm so Floyd began a funeral business in Lincoln. This shaped Betty’s life and she became the third licensed woman embalmer in the state of Nebraska; she was a woman ahead of her time. As a mortician, Betty’s goal was to serve each family with care and dignity as her faith taught. She was a talented restorative artist and was called upon by other mortuaries when her special skills were needed.

Betty married her sweetheart Roy Sheaff in 1946 while he was in Law school. They had two children, Joleen Sheaff Hilgenfeld and John Sheaff. At the age to 62 Betty changes professions and became a licensed legal secretary immersing herself into yet another career serving people in need. Betty was a doer! She was active in many community, state, and national activities while working full time and raised her family. During the Cold War she was the Lancaster county chairman for Civil Defense and worked diligently to proactively find ways to keep her community and its children safe.

Betty joined her Lord and Savior on July 3, 2022. She is preceded in death by her husband Roy, son John, parents Floyd and Johnnie, and sisters: Carol Upson, Elsie Shandera Teague and Verna Madsen and their spouses.

She is survived by Joleen Hilgenfeld, Kyle, Lindsay, Jack and Avery Hilgenfeld all of Stella, NE; Carol Sheaff, Kelly Mullendore and Mike Irvin, Jacob and Zeke Mullendore, Kim, Eric, Katelyn, Ava and Blake Neumayer, Ketti, Joe Jr. and Joe III Heim, all of Lincoln; Kari, Stan, Taylor and Pete Neis of Eudora, KS; Kristi Hilgenfeld and Shelby Mullendore of Kansas City, MO; Clay Sheaff of Davis, CA and Kati, Sam, Arlo and Anneka Cropper of Paddiham UK; Lois and Darold Rohrbaugh of Estes Park, CO and many dear nieces and nephews and loving friends.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 11, 2022 for 3pm to 5pm. A private family service will be held at Tuesday, July 12 at 10 am, Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE.

Please leave condolence at www.lincolnfh.com. Memorial Donations can be made to: United Methodist Church in Louisville, NE; Humboldt United Methodist Church, Humboldt, NE; UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief); North Lake Pavilion at South Bend, NE.

You can join the family though livestreaming by clicking the link below.

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1657074156194226

Betty was a shining example for us all. Love you and God be with you, Betty Rose.