Betty Lou Curtis, age 76 of Mechanicsville, passed away on Monday January 11, 2016 at Mechanicsville Specialty Care. Funeral services will be held on Friday January 15, 2016 at 10:30 A.M at the United Church of Crawfordsville in Crawfordsville, Iowa with Pastor Jason Collier officiating. Burial will follow at the Crawfordsville Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held on Thursday January 14, 2016 from 5-7 P.M at Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence. Betty was born on March 16, 1939 in a relative's home in Sabetha, KS to Jacob Aaron and Arena (Bartlett) Lehman. Betty started first grade in a country school near Mercer, KS. Her family moved to Bosworth, MO around 1948 where she grew up on a farm and later graduated from high school in 1957. Upon graduation from high school, she entered the Women's Army Corps. She met her husband while serving in the U.S. Army and upon completion of her three years of duty, married Larry Carroll Curtis of Crawfordsville, Iowa. She received the Good Conduct Medal from the U.S. Army in 1977. She was an Army wife for 20 years and raised her two daughters and son, sometimes alone while Larry was overseas in Korea and Vietnam. Home base when Larry was outside of the country was always Crawfordsville. They lived in Chicago and Waukegan, IL; Alexandria, VA; and Satellite Beach, FL. When Larry retired from the U.S. Army, the family moved back to Crawfordsville. Betty attended South Eastern Community College in Burlington and graduated with an A.A. degree in Business. She worked many jobs during her lifetime. She was an office secretary, a cook, a nursing home aide, home cleaner, saleswoman, detasseler and partner in her husband's tavern, Sarge's Tap, in New London, IA. She was also a homemaker. A few years after Larry's passing, she moved to Lowden to be closer to family and semi-retired. She was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ and Women's Fellowship, the American Legion Auxiliary and life member of the Amvets in Lowden and VFW Auxiliary in New London. She attended many churches in her lifetime where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, and helping with various church activities. She also enjoyed playing cards, bingo, sewing, volunteering for special events and occasions, baking and sharing tons of cookies at Christmas time with friends, family, and the elderly in the neighborhoods. She is survived by her children, Deanna (Ted) Licht of Lowden, Cynthia (Don) Helms of Cedar Rapids, Nathaniel Curtis of Mt. Vernon, WA and his ex-wife Indira of Wylie, TX; grandchildren, Brett, Jamie, Jewell, Amanda, and Steven; and great grandsons, Nova and Ezra. Betty was preceded in death by her her parents; grandparents; husband, Larry; a brother; sister; three brothers-in-law; and a sister-in-law. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Church of Crawfordsville, Zion United Church of Christ, or the Crawfordsville First Responders.