Obituary of Betty Madsen

Betty J. Madsen, 90, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the Lone Tree Health Care Center.  

Visitation will be held 4 to 7 P.M. Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M. Thursday at the First Church United in West Liberty. Burial will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty.

Memorials may be made to Betty Madsen Memorial Fund.

Betty was born August 19, 1933 in Muscatine, Iowa the daughter of Edward and Grace (Phillips) Franklin. She was a graduate of Muscatine High School in the class of 1951.

On January 27, 1952 she was united in marriage to Paul Madsen at the Walnut St. Baptist Church in Muscatine. Paul and Betty farmed in the Atalissa area all their life, where Betty was a busy farm wife and took great pride in caring for the farmstead. She also worked in the cafeteria of the West Liberty School system and as a HyVee food sample person.

She was a member of the First Church United in West Liberty. Betty enjoyed dancing, music, her grandchildren’s activities and would begin her Christmas shopping in January every year.  

Survivors include her four children: Connie Mills of Nichols, Rick (Brenda) Madsen of West Liberty, Tracy (Kate) Madsen of Atalissa and Mark (Char) Madsen of Atalissa. 9 Grandchildren: Brandon (Amy) Mills, Julie (Gary) Savona, Beth (Randy) Baughman, Jim (Jessica) Madsen, Annie DeShazo, Tracy Paul (Heather)  Madsen, Vicki (Ryan) Jones, Lisa (Chad) Fridley and Kristin Madsen and 21 great grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers: Kenneth Franklin of Florida and Gary Franklin of Ankeny.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul in 2004, grandsons: Paul Michael Madsen and Russell John Madsen, son in law: Gary, brothers: Howard, Steve, Marvin and sisters June and Charlene.