Betty J Dahlberg

Betty was born in Moline, Illinois, to Swedish immigrants Bertha and Gustaf Anderson on April 24, 1929. She graduated from Moline High School in 1947 and Moline Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in 1951.

While working as a Registered Nurse, Betty met Mervin L. Dahlberg and they married in May 1952. Together they raised three children, Christine Walker (now of Bradenton, Florida), Kent Dahlberg (Hanover, New Hampshire), and Lisa O’Hern (Ballwin, Missouri).

Betty was a talented artist and gifted pianist, as well as a professionally-trained vocalist. She loved using these abilities to inspire others and convey her deep faith in Christ. An encouraging wife, mother, neighbor and friend, she was famous for memorable hospitality and bringing people together.

Throughout this active, highly creative life, Betty served in a range of volunteer, church and community leadership roles. Her special love of children might make her best-known for founding Merry Sunshine Preschool in East Moline, Illinois. Since 1970 it has touched thousands of impressionable young lives along with their parents. Merry Sunshine continues thriving to this day, some 56 years later, long after she stepped away from running it.

She is survived by her three adult children, one daughter-in-law (Denise Dahlberg), nine grandchildren and their spouses, along with ten great-grandchildren.

Betty was predeceased by her loving husband Merv, who passed away unexpectedly in August 1982, and her sister Ann Roscoe of Naperville, Illinois, who died in January 2011. More recently she lost two sons-in-law (Scott Walker and Kevin O’Hern).

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held in Bradenton, Florida, with family in late April. Her remains will be interred next to husband Merv and her parents in Greenview Memorial Gardens in Silvis, Illinois, in early May.

Donations in Betty’s memory may be contributed to YouthHope, where she volunteered for several decades (3928 12th Avenue — Moline, IL 61265 — https://www.youthhopeqc.org/) or Homewood Evangelical Free Church (3303 60th Street — Moline, IL 61265 — https://homewoodefc.org/).

Throughout a long and vibrant journey, Betty gave of herself in extraordinary ways, graciously seeking to know and benefit others. Wherever she went, people came to love and adore her. May her memory likewise be a blessing.