Betty M. Swalve, 89 of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Monday, July 8, 2019 at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, Iowa.

Visitation with the family present will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.  Visitation and lunch with the family present will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a Prayer Service at 12:30 p.m. all on Monday, July 15, 2019 at the V.F.W. in Estherville, Iowa. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery in Estherville, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

Betty Maxine Petersen was born on June 23, 1930 to Henry and Grace (Bauman) Petersen on the family farm near Graettinger, Iowa.  She attended country school through 8 ^th grade and graduated from Graettinger High School in 1948.  She worked for a year in Spencer, Iowa at a print shop before attending and graduating from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa in 1952.  She was united in marriage to E.J. 'Doc' Swalve on May 30, 1953 in Jackson, Minnesota.  Betty worked at Holy Family Hospital in Estherville after graduation until 1960 when their family moved to Sioux City, Iowa. They then moved to Le Mars in 1962. In 1975, Doc and Betty moved to Oyens and in 2013, Betty moved to back to Le Mars.

Betty worked at Sacred Heart/Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars from 1963 – 1975 and then became the director of nursing at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars from 1975 – 1988. She later worked at Home Health Care and Hospice Care for Amicare in Sioux City until she retired in 1992.

Betty was a longtime member of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars.  She enjoyed doing crafts, teaching the grandchildren how to play Rummy and other card games, quilting, and crocheting; she made several quilts and afghans.  She especially loved going to Steve and Gary's Little League games and as many of her grandchildren's school activities as possible.  Betty also loved spend time baking with and teaching her grandchildren how to make Christmas cookies.

Betty is survived by her sons: Steve (Connie) Swalve of Oyens and Gary (Naomi) Swalve of Le Mars; 5 grandchildren: Nicholas Swalve, Robert Swalve, Becca (Alex) Spooner, Danny (Ashley) Swalve, and Alex Swalve; great grandchildren: Ryker Spooner, and Chloe and Noel Swalve; brother, Wayne (Vivian) Petersen; siblings in law: Andrew (Rosella) Swalve, Elsie Selberg, Ada Williams, and Leona Kleine; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Doc; granddaughter, Kellen Swalve; brother, Donny (Dorothy) Petersen; siblings in law: Richard (Ethel) Swalve, Roy (Mata) Swalve, Evert (Jennie) Swalve, Johnny (Nettie) Isebrand, Francis (Fred) Beitz, Tillie (Vinal) Bebo Graff, Otto (Norma) Swalve, Sena (Forrest) McGregor, Anna (Harry) Schroeder, Anita (Vern) Barlow, Harold Selberg, Richard Williams, and Charles Kleine.