Beathene (Balzer) Harms

Beathene “Betty” Harms passed away on Tuesday (June 15, 2010) at Moundridge Memorial Home. She was born on Aug. 18, 1914, in rural Whitewater to Isaac and Emma Balzer.
She attended Star School District 38 for eight years then attended Whitewater High School. Betty was baptized by the Rev. G.N. Harms and became a member of Grace Hill Mennonite Church.

On Oct. 17, 1936, she married Elmer Harms, and they made their home northwest of Whitewater on a farm. On Feb. 27, 1939, they were joined by a son, Byron Richard. In 1968, they moved to Newton where she worked at several restaurants. Betty loved to bake and cook. She worked at the restaurant in Woolworth’s Department Store for several years and managed the lunch counters at the Newton Sale Barn and McPherson Sale Barn. At Christmastime, you could find her baking several gallons of peppernuts, which she lovingly distributed to family and friends. In addition to cooking, Betty enjoyed gardening, embroidery and table games, especially Bingo. Due to health problems, Betty sold her home in 2002 and moved to Memorial Home in Moundridge.

She is survived by one son, Byron Harms of Pamona; grandson, Richard and wife Michelle Harms of Pamona; two great-grandsons, Joseph and Michael Harms; one brother, Art Balzer of North Newton; two sisters, Laura and husband Henry Janzen of North Newton and Wilma Harms of Newton; sister-in-law, Pauline Balzer of rural Whitewater; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Elmer Harms in 1998; father, Isaac Balzer; mother, Emma Harms Balzer; brother, Raymond Balzer; sister-in-law, Louis Balzer; brother-in-law, Willis Harms; and a daughter-in-law, Naomi, who passed away in 2002.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Restlawn Gardens of Memory. A memorial has been established with Moundridge Memorial Home in care of Petersen Funeral Home.