Betty J. Horky

Betty J. Horky, 79, of St. Paul, died Saturday, May 28, 2016, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Revs. Rayappa Konka and Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service and Catholic Daughters rosary. Peters Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Mrs. Horky was born on Sept. 2, 1936, at Farwell, the daughter of Clifford G. and Florence M. (Calvin) Juel. As a young girl she lived with her parents in various Nebraska communities and Los Angeles, Calif. In 1950, the family moved to Farwell where Betty graduated from Farwell High School in 1954. She then attended Duschene College in Omaha and later Saint Francis School of Nursing in Grand Island, where she graduated in 1957. She was united in marriage to James A. “Jim” Horky on Sept. 17, 1958, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Farwell. For the next two years, the couple lived in various places while Jim served in the military. In 1960, the couple moved to St. Paul where they lived and raised their family. Betty worked as a surgical nurse at the Howard County Community Hospital, which was later renamed the Howard County Medical Center. She retired in 2013 after 53 years of service. Over the years she also assisted Jim in the operation of their business, Loup Valley Supply. Betty was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women and Catholic Daughters Sacred Heart Court 2015. She was also a former founding member of the St. Paul EMT's and was active in the Howard County Medical Center Auxiliary and volunteered at the Thrift Store. She enjoyed traveling, golfing and attending her children and grandchildren's sporting events and school activities. Betty also loved staying in touch with her nursing school classmates and her dear friends, the “Golden Girls”. She is survived by her husband, Jim Horky; children and spouses, Deb and Bob Bosak of Kansas City, MO, Mike and Melanie Horky of St. Paul and Monica and Roger Williams of St. Paul; six grandchildren, Trevor Bosak, Jacob Bosak, Dana and Josh Comeau, Kalie Horky, Tyler Nealon, and Ashley and Armando Tamayo; two step-grandchildren, Mandi and Clint McKean and Chassi and Dennis Geist; four great-grandchildren, Jocelyn Comeau, Jared Comeau, Karsen Nealon and Knixon Tamayo; and two step-great-grandchildren, Carter Geist and Kane Geist. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; and her in-laws, Albert and Hilda Horky. Memorials are suggested to the Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul EMT's or to the family's choice.