Betty June (Radford) Sell, one of seven children of Winnie (McDole) Radford and George Alva Radford was born June 25, 1926 in Glenwood, Iowa. She grew up in flat iron, attended school in Glenwood graduating with the Class of 1944. She and Ed Sell were homecoming king and queen. She held numerous secretarial jobs in the Glenwood area. She had known Ed for a lot of years, but didn’t start dating him until after high school.
On Jan. 13, 1951, she married Ed Sell at the First Christian Church in Glenwood, where she was a lifetime member. Three months after they were married, Ed was transferred to Topeka, KS with the Air Force. Betty worked for a moving company in Topeka. After two years, they came back to a farm south of Glenwood and were blessed with 3 children, Jack Edward, Jill Lynnette and Jeffrey Gail.
In 1959, they moved to a farm near Imogene, IA and Betty worked for a John Deere dealer in Randolph, IA. In 1962, they moved to a farm south of Malvern where they still reside. Betty worked at Safeway in Glenwood, then for Dr. Scheffel and Dr. Roure, retiring in 1975.
She loved her yearly trip to Las Vegas traveling with her sisters and especially liked “going to lunch”.
Betty enjoyed watching Ed and her sons play softball for over 20 years, playing cards, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and her flowers. She was also a sharp shooter with a rifle. Most of all she loved spending time with her family making the best Sunday dinners and chocolate cake no one could duplicate.
Her greatest gift was spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty’s sense of humor, love for life and kindness made her the best mother and mother-in-law ever. Betty passed away at Tabor Manor on June 4, 2012 at the age of 85 years, 11 months and 9 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Harold and Charles and infant brother, Duane, brother-in-law, Hans Prien and sister-in-law, Betty Radford.
Betty is survived by her husband Ed of 61 years; children, Jack & wife Sandy Sell of Dakota City, NE; Jill & husband Gary Ford of Malvern, IA; Jeff & wife Joni Sell of Hastings, IA; Grandchildren, Tracy (Brian) Ellinger, Kristin Sell (Mike Robinette), Tom (Deb) Ford, Jaime (Mike) Naig, Scott (Katy) Sell, Jared (Katie) Sell, Brooke Sell (Allen Cost), Great-Grandchildren, Ryne and Keaton Sell, Khaia and Kyler Herron, Bryleigh Robinette, Miah Ford, Mitch and Zach Naig, Ashlyn and Ayla June Sell and Addison Sell; sisters, Freda Breeling of Lincoln, NE; Wanda Prien of Minden, NE; and brother, Rodney Radford of Glenwood, IA; sister-in-laws, Mary Lois Radford and Kathie Radford both of Glenwood, IA; nieces, nephews, extended relatives and many friends.
Visitation:Thursday, June 7, 2012
5:00 PM
212 S. Locust St.
Glenwood, IA51534
Service:Friday, June 8, 2012
11:00 AM
212 S. Locust St.
Glenwood, IA51534
9 Condolences
Ed, Jack, Jill, Jeff, and families…
My heart goes out to all of you during this time of sorrow. Anyone who has known Betty will remember her with a smile! I know words can’t really help at a time like this, and yet those who care still try. My love, hugs, & prayers to all of you…
Ed and family, you have our sincere heartfelt sympathy. Betty was wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and a good friend. She will be truly missed by those who knew and loved her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
With Sympathy and Caring Thoughts to all the Family…Betty was a lovely lady and had a beautiful smile..
Colleen and Doug Gipe
Words seem not enough to express the sadness I feel for your family. I didn’t know Mrs. Sell personally, however, often recalled the New Year’s Eves that we called their home to wish Gary & Jill & everyone a Happy New Year from Pennsylvania. My thoughts are with all of you and especially Mr. Sell. My sympathies to a wonderful family, may time and memories heal your pain.
The the entire Sell family – our thoughts and prayers to all of you at this time of sorrow. May the memories you have help comfort you in this time of sadness.
With our deepest sympathy in the loss of Betty, who was so deeply loved.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I was married to Charles, Betty’s older brother, who she loved very much. They were very close. She went to Omaha with him to pick out an engagement ring to give me when we got engaged. We were married 28 years, and Betty was a good friend and sister-in-law all that time. I remember those delicious chocolate cakes that only she could bake. I have read every e-mail that Jill has written and appreciate everything she says.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Great Aunt Betty Radford Sell was one of my favorite great aunts and I’m sad to not have her at the Radford Reunions anymore but I know Betty, Grandpa Charlie, and Uncle Harold are with all of us.
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