Memorial services for Betty M. Merfeld of Mason City will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Mason City. The Rev. Kathleen R. Moore will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church. Private family burial will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Betty died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She was 87.

Betty was born Dec. 9, 1928, in Quincy, Illinois, the daughter of Raymond E. and Mary M. (Dhondt) Barnes. She was a graduate of Chapin High School. On Dec. 5, 1947, she was united in marriage to Lyle E. Merfeld at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

Betty worked for a short time at the telephone office in Mason City, while her husband, Lyle, was in college. Following the birth of her children she devoted her time to her family. She was active as den mother in Scouts, as a Girl Scout leader, area schools parent teacher association and in many church activities. Betty loved traveling, gardening, golf league at Rockford, Iowa, bridge club and square dancing. She enjoyed baking and the weekly get together with her Mah Jong club.

Betty is survived by her children Tom (Toni) Merfeld of Clive, Iowa, Steve (Cindy) Merfeld of Albert Lea and Amy Johnson of Hokah. Grandchildren include Nicole (Lary) Fauth, Danielle Merfeld and Samantha Merfeld and great-grandchildren Kensington and Kyler Fauth. There are four sisters surviving: Norma (Jack) Craighton of Mason City, Joan (Harold) Behrends of Ackley, Iowa, Jane (Steve) Humphrey of Clear Lake, Iowa, and Judy (David) Begalski of Clear Lake. Two sisters-in-law also survive: Mary Jane Barnes of Hampton, Iowa, and Arlene (Gordon) Kammrad of Mason City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lyle, in August of 2015,; brothers Raymond (Marilyn) Barnes, Donald Barnes and Jon Barnes in infancy.

Memorials are preferred to First United Methodist Church or Hospice of North Iowa.