Betty Lou Beals

Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel, 3201 Ave B, Scottsbluff, NE, with Pastor Michael Stein officiating.

Betty was born August 9,1927, in Denver, CO, to parents James and Mary E. (Hockett) Kirwin. Her mother passed away during childbirth. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, Lula Ruth (Hockett) and Ralph Royle, in Scottsbluff. She graduated from Scottsbluff High School and worked as a secretary prior to enrolling in nursing training through West Nebraska Methodist Hospital, currently known as Regional West Medical Center. She and several classmates remained close friends throughout the remainder of their lives enjoying getting together as often as possible. Her first nursing position was at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and she later joined the staff at West Nebraska General Hospital as a Registered Nurse. In 1969, she attended training at Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln for Cardiac Care Nursing and became the Head Nurse of the CCU in Scottsbluff. She retired in 1992 after a 39-year career.

She met Harland Beals while caring for him in the hospital where he was recovering from a major car accident. They were married May 27, 1951, in Scottsbluff, and to this union, five children were born. Dennis (Diane), Gary (Sandra), Bonnie (Leroy) Weitzel, Doug (Loretta), and Robert.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Scottsbluff where she attended Christian Women’s Circle and served as a deaconess. She was a den mother for cub scouts. She taught CPR classes, and after retirement volunteered at the Immunization Clinic and Outpatient Surgery.

Betty is survived by sons Dennis, Gary and Robert; grandsons Jacob, Jason, Joshua, Michael, Danny; great grandson Creighton; great granddaughters Lauren (Trenkle), Jane and Coraline, and niece Kathy

(Larry) Hoshor.

She was preceded in death by her parents and stepparents, her husband, son Doug, daughter and son-in-law Bonnie and Leroy Weitzel, stepbrother and sister-in-law Russell and Pearl Royle, and half sisters Kathleen (Kirwin) Timmons, Eileen (Kirwin Vail) Short and Martha Mary Kirwin.

The family would like to give special thanks to the medical staff at Regional West Medical Center for the care and compassion shown to Betty during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Scottsbluff or Panhandle Humane Society.

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