Betty J. Farmer

Betty Jean Farmer was born to Albert Benjamin Miller and Violet Ruth (Goodman) Miller on May 28, 1950 in Hebron, Nebraska. She passed away at Heritage Crossings on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at the age or 70 years, 5 months, 7 days. She was the youngest of three children in her family. Betty grew up on the family farm south of the Bethel Church on the county line between Thayer & Fillmore. She was baptized in the Methodist Church and was a Member of the Geneva United Methodist Church. She graduated from Shickley High School as salutatorian with the class of 1968. Her nickname throughout high school was ‘Sunshine’ and it was easy to see why. She excelled at band in high school, playing the saxophone, accompanying vocal works on the piano, and serving as drum major. After high school, she attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She was a proud member of Delta Gamma Sorority, following in her sister, Sharon’s, footsteps. While at UNL, she pursued classes in nursing, transferring to Lincoln General School of Nursing and obtaining her Registered Nursing degree. After her sophomore year, her dad gave her and Sharon the choice between a piano and car, and Sharon chose the piano. Betty ended up with canary yellow 1970 Chevelle to get her around Lincoln, and she loved telling stories about that car. During college, she met Paul Farmer. He was finishing up his undergrad at Nebraska Wesleyan and would be attending Mortuary School in San Francisco. They courted for a couple years and were married on August 20, 1971 at the First Congregation United Church Of Christ in Geneva. They made their first home at the Funeral Home in Geneva for 6 years, before purchasing a house on the east side of Geneva and making it a home, raising three children there: Nathan, Shaun & Paige. Betty utilized her nursing degree and worked at several different places in her working years. She started at Dr. Lynn’s Medical Clinic, worked several years for Dr. Caroll Verhage, served as a home health nurse for a time, and finished up her nursing career as the school nurse for Fillmore Central Public Schools. She enjoyed this job most as it allowed her see her children while they were in school. She always regretted not going back to school to get her BSN, but she continued to further her nursing education through reading medical journals and continuing education required to keep her license. She truly loved caring for others. As a child, her hard-working father didn’t want his little girls actively involved in the operation of the farm, but she found ways to enjoy the farm life. From her ponies Rapid Richard and Tony The Pony, to her dogs, pet skunks and raccoons, she made the best of farm life and had great memories of growing up on the farm. She absolutely loved her animals and instilled this in her kids as they all experienced having rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, cats, and dogs. Being the youngest of three, she also adored her brother DeRoy, and sister Sharon. As a child, she recalled being pulled around in one of DeRoy’s go-kart shop creations or cruising in his old Chevy’s. She was always the willing one who was designated to experiment with his new creations. Betty was especially proud of her home. She was blessed with an extraordinary artistic ability, painting in her high school years and teaching herself calligraphy as an adult. She shared this beautiful scrip writing with many. She loved to decorate for the holidays, garden and plant flowers. She would tackle any cross word puzzle, loved the Soap Opera All My Children, and enjoyed participating in several different bridge groups. She also had a solid golf game. She’d never played the game until marrying a Farmer, and PR taught her all she knew about the game and they enjoyed many fun times out at Hidden Hills Country Club at the pool, 4th of July parties, playing couples league, and enjoying the Member Guest tournaments of old for many years with their good friends. Betty was also an especially great cook, with an extensive assortment of recipes. From desserts to four-course meals, she could do it all in the kitchen. One of her family’s favorite meals to prepare for her family was round steak, mashed potatoes, sweet corn and baked beans. She could never make enough of that meal. She and PR loved to travel visiting many different destinations along the way with many good friends. Trips to Las Vegas, The Panama Canal, Boston (where she found she detested oysters on the half shell), Jamaica (where she developed a lifelong love affair with Escargot), Cazumel, St. Thomas, The Grand Caymans, Puerta Vallarta, St. Lucia, and Cabo San Lucas, just to name a few. She especially loved St. Lucia and The Grand Caymans, even sharing the love of The Grand Caymans with her family on a trip in 2011. As time moved on we watched Betty struggle with the pressures of life. As a nurse, she always felt like she knew the answer to her problems, but the depression was real and the choices she made to cope were hard on her and her family, but we never let that define her. She was more than that to us. She was a wife, mother of 3, and grandmother of 7 who loved with her whole heart and we knew that she still had that love inside of her, even in the last days of her life. Though difficult to let her go, we were blessed to have her in our lives and take comfort knowing that she is no longer suffering. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Albert & Vi; and brother DeRoy Miller. She is survived by her husband P.R. of Geneva; children Nathan Farmer & wife Liz of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Shaun Farmer & wife Heidi of Geneva, Nebraska, and Paige Weedin and husband Drew of Aurora, Nebraska; grandchildren Liam Farmer, Ashlyn, Leah, & Dane Farmer, and Delaney, Henley, and Albert Weedin; sister Sharon McDonald and husband Tom of Lincoln, Nebraska; nephews Dan Miller and wife Sarah and their children Hannah & Hailey of Carleton, Nebraska, Ryan Miller & wife Lesley and their children Regan & Beau of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Tyler Miller & wife Megan and their children Mason & Milo of Lincoln, Nebraska; cousins and many friends. A Funeral Service for Betty was held on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Geneva, Nebraska. Pastor Doug Griger and Kim Dunker officiated the Funeral Service. The recorded selections “To Where You Are,” “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” and “Someday, We’ll Be Together” were played during the service. Pallbearers for the service included Nathan Farmer, Shaun Farmer, Drew Weedin, Dan Miller, Tyler Miller, and Ryan Miller. Interment was held in the Geneva Public Cemetery following the Funeral Service. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials are suggested to the Geneva United Methodist Church or the Fillmore County Hospital Foundation.

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Betty J. Farmer

May 28, 1950 - November 4, 2020