Betty Lou Nickels, a longtime resident of Iola, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, June 3, 2018, at Windsor Place Nursing Home in Iola. She was 95 years old.
Betty was born to Verne and Anna Wheeler Sweet of Garnett on April 14, 1923. Her childhood was spent in Garnett, where she lived with her parents and her older sister, Emma Jean. Betty was a graduate of Garnett High School.
In the spring of 1942 Betty eloped with Elvon M. Boots Nickels. They were married on June 8 in Reno, Nev. Betty and Elvon traveled extensively across the western United States prior to the start of their family. Betty and Elvon resided first in Garnett then Iola, where they raised two sons, John and Donald. Elvon and Betty owned and operated a successful oil drilling company and a cattle company; they also owned farms near Colony. Betty loved being outdoors, and she was particularly fond of her flower and vegetable gardens and her immaculate lawn and cedar-free pastures. Betty was also active in Calvary United Methodist Church in Iola.
Betty was preceded in death by Elvon, who died Jan. 9, 1991, and her sister, Emma Jean Pretzer Riley, who died June 26, 2001.
Betty is survived by her two sons and their families: John R. and Anna Romig Nickels, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., and Matthew B. Nickels and his partner Ryan Byrnes, Adelphi, Md., and their daughter Laura Nickels Bodek and her husband Matthew Bodek, Holly Springs, N.C.; Donald E. and Lorraine Nickels, Eden Prairie, Minn., and their son David P. Camerino and his wife Megan Camerino. In addition, she is survived by great-grandsons Caelan and Donovan Bodek, and nephew Michael Pretzer, Washington, D.C.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 15, 2018, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, 1883 US Hwy 54, Iola. The family will greet friends prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bettys name to the Alzheimers Support Group at Windsor Place, 600 E. Garfield St., Iola, KS 66749, and Allen County Regional Hospice, 826 E. Madison Ave, Iola KS 66749. Memorials may be left at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
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