Betty Christensen, 78, of Griswold, IA, died Monday, August 30, 2010 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, IA.

Betty Jane Ratashak was born at Silver City, IA, on May 22, 1932, the daughter of George and Martha Bertha Marie (Wieland) Ratashak. For the most part she attended schools at Lewis and graduated from Lewis High School in 1950. She married Marvin Christensen and to this union were three children. She and Marvin later divorced. Betty was a waitress in cafes in Oakland, later drove a school bus and then went to work at the Glenwood State School in Glenwood, IA as a Resident Treatment Worker. West Central Development in Atlantic employed her later. Betty was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Griswold, enjoyed bowling, sewed and embroidered and worked crossword puzzles until her eyesight failed.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her son-in-law Daryl Thornton, four brothers, Max, Clarence, Lyle and George, and one sister Mary Rountree and one sister-in-law Elsie Ratashak.

Survivors include her children: Terry Christensen of Shelby, IA, Diana Thornton of Beaumont, TX and Pam Christensen of Griswold; her two grandsons and 5 great-grandchildren, Cole Thornton of Essex, IA and his daughters Naela and Kerrigan, and Kelly Thornton and his wife Sabrina of Beaumont, TX and their sons Shawn, Brayden, and Liam. Also surviving are her brothers Edwin Ratashak and his wife Eloise of Clarinda, IA and LaVern "Dutch" Ratashak of Red Oak, IA and her sisters-in-law Carolyn Ratashak of Des Moines, IA, Ella Ratashak of Berthoud, CO, and Margie Ratashak of Kansas City, MO as well as several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Griswold on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Pastor Celeste Waymire officiating. Inurnment of cremains will be in Whipple Cemetery at a later date. Family visitation will be held at the church beginning at 9:30 on Saturday until service time. The Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family with their arrangements.