Betty Esbeck

Betty Esbeck, 87, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Atlantic Specialty Care.

Betty Jane was born on May 5, 1935, in Audubon County, Iowa, the daughter of Alfred and Edna Christina (Christensen) Knutsen.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, west of Audubon.  She grew up alongside her siblings in rural Audubon County and they lost their mother in 1948, Betty was 13.   

On September 13, 1953, she was united in marriage to Robert N. Esbeck at the Lutheran parsonage in Atlantic and to this union two sons were born, Rodney and Dale.  The family lived on a farm near Anita and together they enjoyed camping.

Betty was not only a farm wife, but was also employed outside the home in local businesses and sold various products through door-to-door sales including Tupperware, Watkins and Toy Parade.  She worked at Weed’s Grocery in Anita, Walton Manufacturing, Bodine’s, DeLong’s, the Oakland Beef Plant, and waitressed at the Purple Martin House.  She was one who couldn’t sit idle and liked to work so in “retirement” she worked in laundry at the Atlantic Care Center on Sunnyside Lane.

Family was very important to her and she took any chance she could to be together with them.   She treasured time spent with family and friends visiting over a cup of coffee.  Betty looked forward to going for a drive and if she got to go through one of the local state parks that was an added bonus, and going to garage sales.  Betty will be remembered as dedicated mother and sister, as a hard worker, and for her quiet and easy-going temperament. 

Betty is survived by her sons, Rodney Esbeck of Atlantic and Dale Esbeck of Audubon; granddaughter, Kaylena (Tobin) Sutton of Lenox; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Jackson, and Dominik; siblings, Carl (Darlene) Knutsen of Atlantic, Lovie (Roy) Andersen of North Liberty and Raymond Knutsen of Atlantic; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Edna Christine Knutsen; step-mom; Jeanie; sister, Mary Ann (Merrill) Petty and brother, Mads (Vernice) Knutsen.

Open visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15^th at Roland Funeral Home.  No visitation with the family present is planned.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 17^th at the Brighton Township Cemetery, near Marne, Iowa.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Betty’s family and her arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.