Betty Jean Cooper

July 2, 1924 - September 4, 2019

Betty Jean Cooper, age 95, of Knoxville, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at the Pella Regional Health Center. Betty was born on July 2, 1924 in Sandyville, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Josephine (Glasgow) Bacus. She attended and graduated from country school in Sandyville. After school, Betty worked at a local chicken factory. She later worked at the Knoxville Café, Ben Franklin, the V.A. Hospital, and then at the Knoxville Jr. High. Betty was united in marriage to Ronald Paul Cooper in Princeton, Missouri on September 12, 1943. They were blessed with two daughters, Patricia and Phyllis. Betty was raised in the Methodist Church, then joined Living Word and was later a devoted member of the Community of Christ Church in Knoxville. She enjoyed bowling, liked to read, and watch her “stories” and the news. A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at the Winfield Funeral Home in Knoxville. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M. on Monday, with Betty’s family present to greet relatives and friends, until the start of service. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Following burial, a luncheon will be held at Community of Christ Church, also in Knoxville. Those left to cherish Betty’s memory include her daughters, Patricia Lunsford and Phyllis Chambers, both of Knoxville; one sister, Marilyn DeZwarte; one brother, William “Bill” (Ada) Bacus; two granddaughters, Kristina Wilkins and Stacy (Ryan) Mason; four great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; also other extended family members. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Josephine Bacus; husband, Ronald “Coop” Cooper; granddaughter, Kimberly Ogden; three brothers, Charles, Bert, and Beryle “Buck” Bacus; one sister, Armelda Kueper; and two sons-in-law, Thomas Lunsford and Raymond Chambers.