Betty Lorane Peterson Schuster

1931 - 2025

Betty Lorane Peterson Schuster

July 14, 1931 - November 25, 2025

Betty L. Schuster, 94, of Grand Island, Neb., formerly of Phillips, Neb., died Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at CHI Health - St. Francis in Grand Island with her daughter Becky and son-in-law Ed at her side.

Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St Leo's Catholic Church. The Rev. Donald A. Buhrman will officiate. Interment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. with visitation following the rosary until service time. You are encouraged to sign Betty's register book at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under her obituary. Memorials are suggested to St. Leo's Parish in Grand Island, St. Boniface Catholic Church in Callaway, Neb., and the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep organization in memory of her granddaughter, Hailey. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

Betty Lorane Peterson Schuster was the 4th child of Floyd and Lucy Peterson, born on July 14, 1931 at Callaway, Neb. She would eventually have 12 siblings. She attended school at Elim Country School and then moved to Arnold after 8th grade to live, work and attend school. She graduated from Arnold High School in 1950. She was proud to make enough money working in a cafe to buy occasional gifts for the "little kids" living at home and fix her teeth. She worked in Lincoln with friends the summer between her junior and senior year and had many fond memories of that. She taught at a small country school in Custer County for 1 year. Betty drove a 1929 car to school - she called it her "fun" car. Betty married Norman Schuster of Callaway in 1951. They had a daughter, Becky in 1952. She had 140 nieces and nephews, some along with neighbor kids who considered them friends and bonus parents/grandparents. Betty and Norman were Godparents to 6. Betty enjoyed getting together with neighbors and friends for dinner parties, birthdays and cards. She was involved in a social group of friends called the Birthday Belles and enjoyed the monthly get-togethers. She and Norman always enjoyed drop-ins for coffee and visits and could always find something to feed them. She was known as a good cook and baker, especially for her sour cream chocolate cake and brownies, gravy, jellies and cookies. She helped for years with the blood mobile, Altar Society functions for St. Boniface Church such as entertaining with bingo and snacks at the rest home in Callaway and serving funeral meals. She helped with the farming and ranch duties and cooked 3 meals a day until Norman passed away. In 1992, she and Norman moved to a new house on an acre near Phillips to be near their family. The move allowed them to attend their grandchildren's music recitals, concerts, plays, sporting events, taekwondo competitions, show choir competitions, award events and graduations. Time with her grandkids and great-grandkids was her absolute favorite thing to do. After moving, she and Norman found many new friends to play cards with and have for coffee, meals and visits. Betty also loved to read and do word puzzles until losing most of her vision. In May 2012, Norman and Betty were honored to go on the Hall County Hero Flight #3 as a WWII veteran and an escort.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Ed Whipple; grandchildren, Tess (Rhaym) Keel, Taylor (Christine); and great-grandchildren, Annika, Linnea and Owen; siblings, Jane (Noel) Wilkins, Kenny (Marge) Peterson, Jay (Jeanie) Peterson, Kay (Niels) Nielsen, Sheila (Dennis) Malcom; and in-laws, Ruby Peterson, Betty Schuster, Carolyn Farina, Joan Schuster; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; granddaughter; Hailey; and siblings, Don, Jerry, Lela, Jim, Nona, Loren Dee and Violet; and several close in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

She expressed appreciation of her caregivers over the last several months, her friends, Bob and Cindy, and daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Ed for their constant love and support.