Betty Carroll, 77, of Leighton, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024, at Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Betty Lou Carroll, daughter of Glen and Barbara (Gable) Sytsma, was born March 3, 1947, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Her first school days were spent at her local country school. She later went to Pella Schools and graduated from Pella High School with the class of 1965. While still in school, she met a young man named Jim Carroll, and the two started their courtship. After her graduation, Betty and Jim were married a few months later, on July 11, 1965. Betty and Jim moved to Boulder, Colorado, for one year before returning to Oskaloosa in 1966. Betty and Jim were blessed with the birth of two sons, Scott and Chad.
When Betty moved back to Oskaloosa, she began working at the Overall Factory as a seamstress, primarily working on overalls and making shirts. She later began working at Pella Corp and retired after 13 years of service. During retirement, Betty did not sit idle. She started working in the food services department at the Madison Elementary School in Pella.
Wherever Betty was, Jim was sure to be as well. The couple spent almost all their time together; only an occasional fishing trip by Jim to Canada was when they were apart. Betty and Jim spent many hours fishing, golfing, and taking family camping trips. She was also one of the toughest people around, enduring over five years of cancer treatments. Some of Betty’s favorite memories were her and Jim’s beloved trips to Yellowstone National Park, during which they were delighted to take their grandchildren with them.
Betty’s family includes her sons, Scott (Anita) Carroll of Pella and Chad (Winona) Carroll of Leighton; her grandchildren: Jeremiah Carroll and his daughters, Brinley and Braylen; Shelby Carroll and her daughters, Nadia, Willow, and a baby girl due soon, Lindsy (Bo Lo) Carroll and their son, Arthur, Kayla (Kody) Sillavan and their daughter, Kinzley, and Emily (Cassidy) Blom, her brothers, Bill (Jo) Sytsma of Pella, Iowa, Bob (Liane) Sytsma of Leighton, Iowa and Burl Sytsma of Knoxville, Iowa.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, of 58 years, on November 2, 2023.
A visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, with family present from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to greet friends and family at the Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, IA. As was her wish, Betty’s body has been cremated. Memorials may be made in her name, to be designated later. Langkamp Funeral Chapel and Crematory have been entrusted with the arrangements.
