Elizabeth D. Kesting

March 29, 1920 – October 2, 2014

Elizabeth (Betty) D. Crable Kesting, 94, died Thursday, October 2nd at Boutwells Landing Senior Living Community, Oak Park Heights, MN.

Betty was born to Ad and Sarah Alice Dodd Crable on March 29, 1920 in Paris, IL.

In 1943 she became a Civil Service employee of the U.S. Treasury Dept., as an interviewer for personnel located in Chicago, IL. Later, she went to work for American Airlines where, upon completion of training, she was assigned to work in Detroit, MI in reservations and ticketing. In 1945 she transferred to work for American at Love Field, Dallas, TX. It was there that she met Lt. Wilbur F. Kesting, U.S. Army Air Force. They were married in the Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX on December 7, 1945.

In 1946 after her husband’s discharge from the Service, they moved to Lima, Peru where he was a pilot for Pan American Grace Airways.

In 1947 her husband was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Air Force and assigned to Smoky Hill AFB, Salina, KS.

From 1947 until 1965 when Lt. Col. Kesting retired, Betty had been a very active and dedicated military wife. She served as president of the Officers Wives Club at Smoky Hill, Salina, KS, Dyess AFB, Abilene, TX, and Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY. She was in the Red Cross Family Services, and active in theatrical productions. She was organizer and president of a newly formed Toastmistress Club at Dyess AFB. In 1965, when her husband retired at Warren AFB, they chose to remain in Cheyenne.

Betty was a board member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Symphony Guild. She had been a member of Daughters of the Nile, belonged to Civic League, and helped the Community Concert Association. For two years she was the director of Opportunity School, which later became Stride Learning Center. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter C.

Betty is survived by one son, Bill, daughter-in-law Nancy, two grandsons, Timothy and Christopher, and several nieces and nephews. Her parents, three brothers, and husband preceded her in death.

Interment will be at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO

The Kesting family extends its appreciation to the staff of Presbyterian Homes & Services, and most recently those at Boutwells Landing, for their ongoing and faithful care of Betty, and for their assistance while she was living in MN.