01/19/1994
Services for Merle Edwin Betterton, 76, Knoxville, who died on Jan. 19, 1994, at Pella Community Hospital in Pella, were on Jan. 22, 1994, at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.
Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Pastor Tim Stanwood
officiated at the service. Music was provided by Darlene Mooberry and Jim Kidder.
Pallbearers were Bill Bacus, Howard Brause, Don Dennison, Johnny Betterton, Mike Brause and Richard Kingery. Honorary pallbearers were Bert Bacus, Bill Dennison, Lloyd Karr and John Prunty Merle was born on March 10, 1917, in Marion County, the son of Beulah Aswandel and William Harold Betterton. Merle spent his entire life in Knoxville and the Marion County area.
He graduated from Knoxville High School in the Class of 1935.
On March 10, 1941, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Lee Thomas in Knoxville.
Merle was a perchasing agent for Knoxville Veterans Medical Center and retired with more than 35 years of service. He was also a Des Moines
Register Sunday newspaper carrier for more than 25 years. He was always an early riser, so everyone had their Sunday paper by 7 a.m.
He was a member of the First Christian Church in Knoxville and later became a member of Christ’s Church in Knoxville.
Merle was very active in church, as much as his health allowed. Merle was also very active in the Marion County Historical Society and was instrumental in having the Stagecoach Inn moved from town to Marion County Park. He solicited more than $10,000 in donations for the project by himself.
Merle was also a volunteer Boy Scout Leader for Troop No. 367 during the mid-50s.
He was a person who saw a need for things to be done and he followed through until the projects completion. He was a doer of deeds. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Ronald; one sister,Tharon Brause and one granddaughter, Kimberly Sue.
Survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Dorothy of Knoxville; two sons, Dwayne Betterton of Knoxville and Richard Betterton of Cedar Falls and six grandchildren Memorials may be made to the Marion County Historical Society.
The Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville was in charge of the arrangements.