'Betty' Schwenk

Ann Elizabeth “Betty” Schwenk, 79, of St. Libory, died peacefully, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at her home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Libory’s Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Revs. Sidney Bruggeman and James Janovec and Deacon Don Placke will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. parish rosary.

Memorials are suggested to St. Libory’s Catholic Church or to the family for later designation.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Betty was born Sept. 8, 1941, in Grand Island, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Donovan) Assendrop. She was raised on a farm, near St. Libory and attended District No. 39 rural school and then St. Libory’s Catholic School and graduated from Grand Island Central Catholic in 1960.

She then attended College of St. Mary and St. Catherine’s School of nursing in Omaha. She was the vice-president and valedictorian of her class and received her nursing degree in 1964.

She began her nursing career at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha and St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island.

She was united in marriage to Gary C. Schwenk on Feb. 27, 1965, at St. Libory’s Catholic Church. The couple were blessed with three daughters, for which Betty took a break from nursing to raise her family. She then returned to her career spending 27 years at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island, caring for the veterans and their families, with a deep caring respect for their sacrifices.

She was a lifelong member of St. Libory’s Catholic Church, and was involved in the Altar Society, CCD teacher, D.C.C.W. past officer of the Grand Island deanery, and participated in several prayer and share groups. She was a member of the Howard County Historical Society and Howard County C.A.R E. team. She loved music and was a member of the GI P.T.A area Mother Singers. She also volunteered at the G.I Literacy Council enriching lives in the art of language. She and Gary belonged to several card clubs and enjoyed ballroom dancing. In later years she experienced great delight in birdwatching and long Sunday drives.

She was a devoted wife and nurturing and selfless mother and grandmother. Her deep faith was evident in her radical passion for the welfare of others and she sought to pass this legacy to her family. Her Irish wit and quick humor will leave a life-time of memories to all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her daughters, Amy and Todd Doom of Wagner, SD, Molly Dove and Gregory Lawhead of St. Libory and Kathryn Kurz of Sioux City, IA; five grandchildren, Margaret Doom and husband, Noah Benson of Sioux Falls, SD, Kathryn Doom of Wagner, SD, Bridgette Dove and husband, Gage Dove of Grand Island, Leslie Kasson of St. Libory and Conner Kurz of Grand Island; brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Donna Assendrop of Grand Island; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Kay and Bill Scarborough of Omaha and Jan and Bill Sack of St. Paul.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Mary; husband, Gary, on June 21, 2012; in-laws, Albert and Clara Schwenk; and nephews, Scott Scarborough and Russell Sack.