Betty Jean Doerfler

Betty Jean Doerfler, Urbandale IA, passed away peacefully Monday, January 12 at the age of 95. Born June 21, 1930, in Newcastle, WY to George and Ella (Kudlock) Pzinski, she was the youngest of three children, and raised on the family ranch near Four Corners, WY. Following graduation from Newcastle High, she attended Colorado Women's College in Denver, Colorado, where she met Harry Doerfler. They were united in marriage at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Denver, April 10, 1952, living in Denver until 1962, moving to Ogden, UT for one year, before moving to West Des Moines, IA, in 1963.

Betty was a quick study in several areas, including baking, cooking, quilting, oil and watercolor painting, card games, cross word puzzles, and golf. It was a tradition for her to bake several selections of cookies, the favorites of each family member every Christmas. Her peach, coconut cream and chocolate cream pies were always a hit and quickly polished off. She was good in any card game, especially bridge, an accomplished player. Betty loved to play golf and was a competitive player, even recording a hole-in-one the same day as Harry did, the rarest of rare feats!

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband Harry, to whom she was married to for over 65 years.

Betty is survived by her sons George (Britta) and Steve (Laura), nine grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren, a large family tree.

There will be a Catholic funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, West Des Moines, IA, Thursday, January 22, at 10:30 with a luncheon following Mass, and an opportunity to visit with family. Internment is Friday, January 23, 11:00 at the Veterans Cemetery, Van Meter, IA where she will be laid to rest alongside Harry.