Elizabeth Gertrude (Betty) Van Essen, 86, Edgerton, formerly of Leota, died Monday, March 10, 2014, at Edgebrook Care Facility in Edgerton.

A funeral service was Friday, March 14, at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. Burial followed at the Leota Community Cemetery.

Elizabeth Kreun was born Sept. 28, 1927, to Carl and Gertrude (Bruxvoort) Kreun near Chandler. Betty received her education in a country school. After the death of her father, she helped on the family farm until her mother moved to Chandler. Then she did housework in Chandler and Holland, Mich., worked at the Leader café in Edgerton and later at Bethesda Sanatorium in Denver, Colo.

On March 23, 1947, she married Henry Van Essen. They first lived in Leota and in 1950 moved to a farm northeast of Leota. In 1963 the couple moved back to Leota, having purchased a half share in the De Boer Grocery Store and Locker Plant. After moving to Leota she cooked for the hot lunch program at the Leota Christian School. Later they maintained the Leota Park for several years.

She was a member of the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church of Leota, sang in the choir, was a member of the Golden Hour Circle, the Southwest Christian High School Circle, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She volunteered at the Bible Thrift Store in Worthington.

Elizabeth is survived by three sons, Quentin (Edith) Van Essen, Sioux Center, Iowa, Don (Deborah) Van Essen, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Lee (June) Van Essen, Sioux Falls, S.D., three daughters, Bonnie (Les) Netjes, Rock Rapids, Iowa, Mary (Verlyn) Vander Top, Loveland, Colo., and Kristi (Gregg) Zonnefeld, Waupun, Wis.; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a brother, Chuck Kreun, Holland; three sisters, Caroline Schierbeek, Holland, Jo Pals, Edgerton, and Priscilla Christians, Champaign, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Henry Van Essen, three brothers, four sisters and two infant brothers.

Arrangements were by Dingmann Funeral Home, www.dingmannandsons.com.