Bette Lee Dryer

On Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, Bette Lee Dryer passed on to her eternal home in Heaven. Her last days were spent in the comfort of her family and friends at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa.
Bette had a true love and passion for being a wife, mother and grandmother, and took great pride in the family she raised with her husband Harry. Her second love, cooking, brought her many joys, including a National Beef Cookoff Championship that rewarded her and Harry with a trip to actor James Garner's ranch in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her cooking adventures also afforded her the opportunity to cook for governors, senators and vice presidents, run a tearoom, and cater for many family members and friends. Bette was a regular at the Iowa State Fair judging, giving demonstrations and selling her thirteen cookbooks. She loved those two weeks of catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
Bette was born on November 28th, 1935, in Astatula, Florida to Virgil Lee and Sarah Atz. She married Harry Dryer (Trenton, Missouri) on January 9th, 1963, and started a family in Tampa, Florida. After the birth of their fourth child the family made the move north with a short stop in Trenton, Missouri. Soon they relocated to Indianola, Iowa where Bette took her job as mother and wife very seriously. Meals were important, and dinners were the highlight of everyone's day. Attendance was required, and conversation and laughs were guaranteed. Raising the four kids was her priority, and one that she did with compassion, expectations, and love.
The Dryer's stayed connected to Bette's Florida ties with annual trips to Clearwater to visit family and enjoy the beach. Those trips consisted of the family climbing into their Ford LTD and taking the two-day drive south. The journey was highlighted by Bette reading various stories from Reader's Digest to the family along the way.
Bette was preceded in death by Virgil Lee (father), Sarah Atz (mother), and Susanah Dryer (daughter). She is survived by Harry Dryer (husband), Margaret Dryer-Steffens/Mark (daughter), Scott Dryer/Brenda (son), Matthew Dryer/Brenda (son), Greg Atz (brother), Gary Atz (brother), Michael Dryer/Courtney (grandson), Katie Dryer (granddaughter), Madeline Blackman/Cody (granddaughter), Matthew Dryer (grandson), Ella Dryer (granddaughter), Betsy Dryer (granddaughter), Sarah Steffens (granddaughter), Molly Dryer (granddaughter), Elliotte Blackman (great-granddaughter), Kaysen Dryer (great-grandson), and many family and friends.
Honorary pall bearers: Lynn McCallum (life-long family friend), Kerry McKasson (friend and catering/tearoom florist) and Diane Buchannan (life-long family friend).
The family is extremely grateful for the love, compassion and care Bette received in her last days at the Taylor Hospice House. In leu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Taylor House Hospice at 3401 East Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50317. A Celebration of Life will be held at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, Iowa, on Saturday, February 15th, with visitation starting at 1:00 PM and service at 2:00 PM.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day