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Betty LaCoste Frankenfield Schwarck

Betty LaCoste Frankenfield Schwarck, 94, of Charles City, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019 at the Muse Morris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City surrounded by her loving family.

A funeral service for Betty will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City with Pastor Wendy Johannesen from West St. Charles United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.

Betty LaCoste Frankenfield Schwarck
Betty LaCoste Frankenfield Schwarck

Visitation will be at Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 and will continue one hour before the service at the church on Saturday.

Betty Marie (Woelfer) LaCoste Frankenfield Schwarck was born Aug. 3, 1924 to Erwin and Nellie (Smith) Woelfer in Rockford, the youngest of four daughters. Betty attended Woelfer Country School, graduated from Rockford High School in 1942 and obtained her teaching certificate and taught country school. She married Charles F. LaCoste on March 31, 1944 and they later divorced.

Betty was united in marriage to Harley B. Frankenfield on December 15, 1976 and Harley passed away in 1994. She was then married to Milo “Mike” Schwarck on June 30, 1996 and Mike also preceded her in death on October 4, 2009.

Betty worked hard at dairy farming on her family farm east of Rockford with her husband Charles, where they raised their six children. She worked outside the home as a home health aide, and as a clerk for Kalt’s Variety Store in Rockford and Trowbridge’s in Charles City (Betty was working there when the May 1968 tornado hit Charles City). Betty also worked for Deckers in Mason City until her marriage in 1976.

Betty was a member of the Sisters Club with Carol, Roberta and June, her three sisters. They met monthly and celebrated happily by playing games, pursuing adventures, going on nature outings and occasional short road trips. She traveled to Cairo, Egypt, Berlin and Jerusalem with her Aunt Myrtle Jensen. With Harley, Betty traveled to Hawaii and England. She also took several Heritage Club trips with Mike, including Arizona and the east coast. As a representative of the Floyd County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, she traveled to Washington, D.C. in Sept. 1979. Her report of this trip appeared in the October 1979, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman. Betty was also a blood donor into her 90’s which meant she saved hundreds of lives.

A determined woman who was a loving and dedicated wife and mother, Betty enjoyed writing, quilting, birds, sewing, gardening, painting, playing the piano and singing. There were many memorable meals in her home that included pies. Betty was devoted to her faith as a member of West St. Charles United Methodist Church and a life member of Women’s Society of Christian Service.

Living family members include her six children: Marilyn (Tom) Grygo of Nekoosa, Wisconsin, Patricia (Tim) Tuberty of Ames, Ronald (Jean) LaCoste of Rockford, Richard (Nancy) LaCoste of Mason City, Polly Schmidt of Nora Springs and Chad LaCoste of Charles City; 12 grandchildren: Andrea Grygo, Sarah (Mike) Withers, James (Kellie) Tuberty, Misty (Don) Koebrick, Lori (Martin) Foxen, Daniel (Anita) Larson, Carrie (Don) Brown, James Deshler, Jenni Deshler, Scott Schmidt, Brooke (Brad) Sudol and Christopher (Jordan) LaCoste; 25 great-grandchildren; numerous step children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; along with several nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael LaCoste; three sisters: Carol (Wayne) Parcher, Roberta (Bernard) Inman and June (Ivan) Lokenvitz; along with other family members and friends.

Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.

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