Betty Jean Christiansen

Betty Jean Christiansen, who was born in Ottumwa, Iowa to William and Fay (Vaught) Farquhar on November 3, 1933, passed away at the age of 83 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa on July 24, 2017. Graveside Services will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunny Hill Cemetery in Grimes, Iowa. Betty stayed busy over the years raising her six children. She was also a talented bartender who attended bartending school, owned a fabric store in Fairfield and was a bookkeeper for Pamida.
Betty loved cooking, gardening and flowers. Her cheesecakes where legendary and were even sold at Claxton’s BBQ. She was a talented seamstress, which could be seen by the wedding dresses and suits she made for family members. She loved country music and especially Blake Shelton. Betty is survived by her children Susan (Jim) Gesualdo of Centerville, IA, Scott (Deb) McWhirter of Springfield, MO, Steven (Pam) McWhirter of Maple Plain, MN, Shannon (Cindy) McWhirter of Libertyville, IA and Stacey (Becky) McWhirter of Fairfield, IA; step-children Kevin Christiansen of Des Moines, Kim (Bill) Fields of Des Moines and Steven German of Hemet, CA; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren with one on the way. She is also survived by special friend Vicki Bunn and Cheryl Peitzman, her sister-in-law, partner in crime and best friend. Betty was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband Carl; her parents and son Douglas McWhirter.