Betty Ann Armknecht Morrison, 90, of Ogallala, passed away on December 14, 2023, at North Platte, Nebraska.
Betty was born July 11, 1933, at Orum, Nebraska, to Harvey Frederick and Mildred Anna Amanda Marie (Walkenhorst) Ahlmeyer. She was Baptized at St Paul's Lutheran Church on July 28, 1933, and in March of 1947, Betty Ann was Confirmed in the faith.
On May 28, 1950, Betty married Ervin Arthur Armknecht at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ogallala. The couple briefly made their home in Ogallala before moving to the homeplace south of town, where they farmed and raised their four children: Kathy, Deb, Cheryl, and Kevin. The two loved to square dance whenever they got the chance or share a game of cards with the neighbors.
Betty was a woman of great faith, ambition, talent, and hard work. She owned and operated a candy store at the Dutchess Hotel with her sister-in-law, Pauline Armknecht for a short time. Following that, she specialized in baking cakes for hundreds of weddings over the years. Her cakes garnered renown over the years; her frosting recipe is still a guarded family treasure.
Betty was also an excellent seamstress and made the wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses for all of her daughters' weddings. She was sewing into her 90th year, one of the many proofs that Betty did not eat the bread of idleness. She was also an excellent woodworker.
Betty drew up the plans for the home they built south of town, and when Ervin passed away, she took over the farm with the help of her children. She loved to garden and put up produce. Part of their life on the farm involved raising turkeys and chickens, ensuring there were always enough eggs for making cakes and fried chicken for family meals on Sundays.
On April 18, 1987, Betty married Larry Morrison at Oshkosh, and the couple was blessed with 25 years together.
Betty will be remembered in countless ways by her family, especially through the lens of her faith. Betty's Confirmation verse, 1 Corinthians 6:20, is especially resonant as her life's story shows the many ways that she glorified God in what He graciously gave her.
Betty was preceded in death by spouses, Ervin Armknecht and Larry Morrison; three grandchildren, Brian Keith Eichner, Timothy Scott Eichner, and Troy Lynn Rosentrater; and a stepdaughter, Lynn Morrison.
Survivors include her children, Kathy (Paul) Taylor of Ogallala, Deb (Jerry) Rosentrater of Elsie, and Cheryl (Kurt) Schiel of North Platte, Kevin (Deb) Armknecht of Ogallala; stepchildren, Lori Morrison of Joplin, MO, Lisa (Randy) Smith of Kearney; 11 grandchildren, Jeff (Jamie) Eichner & Jarret (Jamee) Eichner of North Platte, Chad (Suzi) Rosentrater & Scott (Mindy) Rosentrater of Elsie, Stacey (Quinton) Patzlaff of Alexandria, SD, Matt (Kara) Pedersen & Brady (Katie) Pedersen of Omaha, Krissa Pedersen of Long Island, Tom (Tracey) Armknecht of Spalding, Amanda (Shane) Harger & Travis (Laykne) Armknecht of Ogallala; 39 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Connie Cook of Ogallala; along with many other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St Paul's Lutheran Church Organ Fund or to the Orphan Grain Train in her memory. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 1:30 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ogallala, with Pastor Albert Bader officiating. Inurnment will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.
Memorial book signing will be from 4 pm until 6 pm at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 20.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.