Betty Louise Rhode

Betty Louise Rhode, the daughter of Warden and Hazel (Smith) Patrick was born January 30, 1928, in Coon Rapids, Iowa.  She graduated from the Little Cedar High School.  She furthered her education at Iowa State University for one year and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College with a degree in Home Economics. 

     Betty taught at the Adair School from 1949 until 1954, where she met James Rhode while teaching in Adair. They were married on June 3, 1951 in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Following their marriage, she taught Home Ec. and Math in Hansell, Iowa, and then Superior, Iowa.  They later moved to Calumet, Iowa, where she was a stay-at-home mother raising her two children. Jim and Betty built a cabin in 1964 on Rainy River in Ontario where they spent many summers together.  Betty returned to teaching in the Sutherland school system until her retirement in 1983, and then moved to Wahpeton, Iowa.  Betty was an active member of the Methodist Church in Sutherland and Spirit Lake.  She was a member of the Women’s Club in Sutherland, and Lakeville Club in Spirit Lake.  She served as a leader for the Camp Fire Girls and Cub Scouts.  She enjoyed fishing and then frying the fish.  She loved to sew, cook (well-known for her chocolate cakes and decorated cakes), and attending her grandchildren’s events.  Most of all, Betty loved spending time with her family.

    Betty moved to Spencer in 2007 and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and a volunteer at the Spencer Hospital. 

     Betty passed away on January 24, 2020 at Accura Healthcare in Milford, Iowa at the age of 91.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one brother, Wallace Patrick; sister, Mary Patrick; and sister-in-law, Geraldine.

    Left to cherish her memory are her son, Steve Rhode and wife, Kim of Spencer, IA; daughter, Kathy Rhode of Humboldt, IA; grandchildren: Kylee (Kevin) Cooper of Sheldon, IA; Kristopher (Alexa) Rhode of Altoona, IA and Karis Rhode of Sioux Falls, SD; great-grandchildren: Kinslee, Kason and Kambree Cooper; one nephew, Jim (Barb) Patrick of St. Joseph, MO; one niece, Marilyn (Jeff) Warren of Middleville, MI; other relatives and friends.

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