Betty Halvorson Colby

Betty (Bliton) Halvorson Colby, 99, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at the Lake Mills Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, at Salem Lutheran Church, with Rev. Joel Guttormson officiating.  Burial will be in Bristol Cemetery, rural Joice.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be given to the Bristol Cemetery, 348 435th St. Joice, IA 50446.
Betty Ann Colby was born  July 23, 1922 in Worth County, Iowa, daughter of Newell and Anna Bliton.  She was a resident in this area her entire life.  She attended rural schools and graduated from Northwood High School.  After her graduation, she worked as a telephone operator in Northwood for three years.
On March 12, 1944, she was united in marriage to Joe Halvorson at the home of her parents.  They lived on the Halvorson farm for 45 years.  When they retired, they moved to Joice where they lived for eight years.

Betty was a member of the Bristol Church, Bethany Church in Joice, and after moving to Lake Mills, became a member of Salem Lutheran Church.
After Joe’s death, Betty married Royden Colby in 1994 and were married until his passing in 2006.  Betty also worked 22 years in the Accounting Department at Fleetguard, now Cummins.  Betty enjoyed reading and going on bus trips with her friends.

Survivors include her son, Larry (Nita) Halvorson and their children, Cory (Erin) Halvorson and their daughter; Monie (Candace) Phillips and their family; and Marty (Mary) Phillips and their family; son, Jody (Pamela) Halvorson and their daughter, Jennifer (Adam) Heilman and their daughter; three stepchildren, Dr. Dennis (Becky) Colby and their family, Diane (Tom) Ruxlow and their family, and Richard (Char) Colby and their family.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Joe Halvorson and Royden Colby; as well as four brothers: Arleigh, Leonard, Eugene, and Mack; and two sisters: Lucille and Mae.