Elizabeth "Betty" Dell Nedbalek

Born in Wellsville, Missouri on April 10, 1933, Betty was raised primarily by her mother, Willie Juanita (Haslip) Hays. When Betty was about 3 years old, the Great Depression was well underway, and times were tough for all. To support herself and child, Juanita took a job in Colorado, caring for the children of another family. As the family would not allow Betty to live with them, she was left behind in Missouri with her paternal grandparents. They cared for her for about a year, until they could no longer afford to do so. At the age of 4, Betty was put on a train headed for Denver with two men, known by a family member, traveling that way. Upon arriving in Denver and with no place to go, Betty was placed in an orphanage. Juanita would visit every weekend until fortunately, when Betty was 6, family members moved to Golden and allowed them to move into the basement. Betty’s uncle would lay out pretty clothes for her to wear to church and wake her on Christmas Eve for midnight mass. When Betty was 10 years old, Juanita married David Charvonia. He waited to adopt her until she was 18 and could make the choice herself, but he was always her Daddy.

After graduating from College High in Greeley in 1951, Betty married Merle Bernhardt in Bremerton, Washington, where he was stationed at the time. He was eventually transferred to Aurora, Colorado where he and Betty welcomed their children, Jerry, Neta, and Vic. Merle left the Navy and they moved to Loveland in 1959. Betty and Merle later parted ways.

In 1966, Betty married Robert “Bob” Lee Nedbalek and welcomed his children, Robby, Sandy, Bonnie, and Steven, creating one big, beautiful, blended family. Bob and Betty owned and operated Brown’s Corner Sporting Goods in Loveland for many years before hitting the road in their 5th wheel trailer, enjoying a variety of opportunities that took them all around the country. At different times along the way, they lived in Nebraska, Colorado, and Arizona. Bob and Betty enjoyed meeting people everywhere they went and acquired many dear friends throughout the years. They moved back to Colorado one final time, arriving at Brookdale Fort Collins during the COVID pandemic. It was a challenging time. Bob and Betty had to live in separate sections of the facility and had very limited visits together as dictated by outbreaks. Five months later, Betty lost Bob. They had celebrated 55 wonderful years together at the time of his passing in 2022.

Betty enjoyed cooking, collecting recipes, antiques, and anything Southwestern or Native American, and reading lots of books. When her eyesight failed, she turned to watching her Westerns and the Hallmark Channel. More than anything else, she loved spending time with her family. To fill her days after Bob’s passing, Betty participated in any available activities, assisted staff when she could and helped new residents not only to adjust, but to thrive, in their new community. Betty blossomed into a well-known and loved Brookdale Welcome Ambassador. She was a wonderful woman with a heart full of love and will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her children; Pastor Rob Nedbalek (Lori) of Deer Lodge, MT, Jerry & Sandy (Nedbalek) Bernhardt of Loveland, Neta Brandt of Sun City, AZ, Bonnie Jacobsen (Lowell) of Fort Collins, Vic Bernhardt (Beth) of Fort Collins, and Steven Sible of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren Tara Nedbalek-Mayne (Deryk), Trebor Nedbalek, Danyelle Hjorth, David Nedbalek, Matt Taylor, Seth Bernhardt (Tammy), Scott Brandt, David Brandt (Ashley), Dan Jacobsen (Shelly), Becky Buckley (Shayne), Rachel Phillips (Mike), Ashley Renzo (Zach), Brandon Forgacs (Ashley), and Logan Bernhardt; 33 great-grandchildren, 17 great-great grandchildren, and 1 great-great-great grandchild; her sister-in-heart, Carol Swinney; and other extended family and friends. Along with her husband Bob, Betty was preceded in death by two grandsons, Cory Bernhardt and Todd Nedbalek, her parents, and by her first husband.

Betty’s family would like to express appreciation to the residents and staff of Brookdale Fort Collins Assisted Living, Bloom Health Care, and Bloom Hospice, for their loving care and friendship.

A Celebration of Betty’s Life will take place on Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11am at Allnutt Funeral Service – Hunter Chapel in Loveland. Please join Betty’s family for a reception to follow. Final resting at Loveland Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bent Tree Church, 1825 W 37th St, Loveland, CO 80538, St. Jude Children's Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children.

Memories of Betty and words of condolence for her family are welcome at www.allnuttloveland.com.