Betty Jean Siegfried , 92, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of Minnesota, passed away on Sunday morning, December 6, 2020 at Accura Healthcare.

Private family graveside service will be held at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Betty Jean Sprague was born on May 27, 1928 to Royston and Marjorie (Nelson) Sprague in Barnes City, Iowa. She attended Barnes City Elementary School and then attended What Cheer Schools before graduating in 1946 from Thornburg High School, where her mother was a teacher. She then attended Drake University from 1946-1950 graduating with a teaching degree.

She met her future husband, Ken in the summer of 1949 at a YWCA dance in Des Moines at Drake University. She married Kenneth Dale Siegfried on August 9, 1950 at the Murray Iowa Jamboree. She taught school for a few years and retired in January of 1954 from Dow City, Iowa. She moved with her husband for his work to Oklahoma City, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, until he passed in 1986. She lived in Minnetonka, Minnesota before relocating to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Cherokee in July 2014. Betty had a very special bond with her son-in-law, Alan. She entered Accura Healthcare nursing home in March 2017, where she spent the last three and half years.

She was a member of the Methodist Church, member of the League of Women Voters, Ladies dinner group of Zurah Shrine in Minneapolis, and a past Zurah Shrine Potentate's wife. She loved reading, history, pleasing and helping others, and making people feel comfortable. Betty was a fabulous host and always had her home open to family and friends to gather or stay. She would show love through cooking food for others. She had a special bond with her daughter's dog, Oreo. Betty and her sisters were known to say, "I love you a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck" as their mother had said to them.

Betty always said, " Bye, bye for now!" as she did not like the finality of goodbye. She was ready to be with the loved ones that passed before her. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, Gertrude Doughten, Mary Klein, brothers-in-law Russell Doughten and Merle Klein, and son-in-law Alan Christensen.

Betty is survived by her children, Bruce Siegfried and his fiancé Kari Schold of St. Louis Park, Minnesota and his ex-wife Lynette Hunter Siegfried of Texas, daughter Lee Ann Christensen of Cherokee, Iowa, two grandchildren Lindsey (Juan) Sanchez of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Shelby Siegfried of Minneapolis, Minnesota; sister-in-law Gladys McCracken of Brookings, South Dakota; and also several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express deep gratitude to Dr. Veit and the Accura Healthcare staff for the kind care and a special thank you to Shelly Allen for all of her help.