Betty Ruth (Blakely) Boles

Visitation: Friday, February 6, 2026, 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., Peterson Mortuary, 212 S. Locust Street, Glenwood, Iowa.

Services: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00 A.M., Grace United Methodist Church, 112 N. Walnut Street, Glenwood, Iowa.

Betty Boles, 97 of Council Bluffs, Iowa formerly of Glenwood, Iowa passed away February 2, 2026.

Betty Ruth (Blakely) Boles, the third child of Ivan William Blakely and Ida Ruth (Bentley) Blakely, was born May 21, 1928, in Mapleton, Iowa. Following high school, she continued her education at Wayne State College and completed her Teaching Degree in 1948. Betty found a teacher’s opening in fourth grade in Glenwood and quickly sent a resume. She was then asked to come for an interview. The interview went so well that she was offered the position that same day. Her parents tried to talk her into living in Council Bluffs, because they thought she would not like living in Glenwood because of all the hilly roads.  Little did they know she would spend the rest of her life in Glenwood.

Betty could always remember many of her students’ names in her first class and some remained long-time friends. During her teaching career, Betty went to night school at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and received her Bachelor’s Degree. She loved teaching and taught for 37 years in the Glenwood school system. Betty fully retired in 1988.

Soon after moving to Glenwood, she met Herbert Wayne Boles who loved to attend Glenwood sporting events. Their first date was attending a football game in Red Oak. They were married on June 11, 1950, at her parent’s home in Whiting, Iowa. They had two children: Cynthia Jean, born December 26, 1951; and Charles Wayne Boles, born May 11, 1953. Betty and Wayne continued to follow Glenwood sports throughout their marriage. They attended many sporting events with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Three of their grandchildren developed into excellent baseball/softball pitchers, which they especially enjoyed watching. After Wayne’s passing Betty became an avid Iowa Hawkeyes basketball fan and didn’t miss a game that was televised.

When Betty was finishing high school, she was honored to become a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls organization. Once in Glenwood, Betty joined Grace United Methodist Church. Later, she was a member of Faith Circle and when she fully retired, she joined Grace United Methodist Women. In addition to holding group offices, Betty especially liked helping in the kitchen and serving funeral luncheons and whatever else was needed.

Betty was also a member of Friends of the Glenwood Public Library. Her hobbies included walking, traveling, reading, modeling, and line dancing.

Betty’s family enjoyed traveling and taking long summer trips. A couple of the favorite trips included the World’s Fair in Seattle (and taking a ferry to Victoria, Canada) and the World’s Fair in New York (and touring Washington, DC on the way home). In 1976, Wayne and Betty even went to the Olympics in Montreal. After they both retired, they continued traveling with tour groups. After Wayne’s passing, she continued to travel with friends.

Betty enjoyed doing things with and for her entire family. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew they could call her anytime if they needed a ride or wanted help doing something. Betty was always available for them.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband Wayne on October 5, 2004; sister Jeannette McCleerey, brother-in-law Lawrence McCleerey, brother Loren Blakely, sister-in-law Helen Blakely and an infant brother, Cecil Ivan.

She is survived by her daughter Cyndy (Roger) Sell of Glenwood, Iowa and her son Charles (Vicki) Boles of Scottsdale, Arizona. Grandchildren: Kari (Todd) Hetzel of Glenwood, Iowa, Stacie (Shane) Osborn of Waterloo, Nebraska, Justin Boles of Johnston, Iowa, Jonathan Boles of, Newport Beach, California, Ashley Molbeck of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Soren Nelson of Austin, Texas, and 12 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

And many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Interment, Glenwood Cemetery, Glenwood, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations have been designated to: Glenwood Volunteer Fire Association, Grace United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.