Betty Marie Veenstra Obituary November 19, 1938 — January 15, 2025

 Betty Marie (Parks) Veenstra, a woman with an adventurer’s heart, a sharp eye for playing cards and an endless well of love for her children, grandchildren and family, passed away on January 15, 2025, at EveryStep Kavanagh House in Des Moines, IA. She was 86 years old. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 25, 2025 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines, IA. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Pella Cemetery in Pella, IA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s name to the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital and Za-Ga-Zig Shriners. Online condolences may be sent to www.caldwellparrish.com

The middle of three children born to James and Jennie Parks. Betty graduated from Russell (Iowa) High School in 1957. Recalling her childhood, she said: “Russell was just the greatest place to be a kid and grow up. You could do everything and we did.”

Following high school, Betty trained as a hair stylist and co-owned a beauty salon. She met her first husband, Bill Hopkins. They welcomed two children, William Hopkins and Melissa Hopkins-Norris.

Betty began working real estate in 1974 and during a nearly 40-year career, much of it with Iowa Realty, helped bring the joy of home ownership to clients in Iowa, Florida and Colorado. 

In 1985 she met Ron Veenstra, “the love of her life.” They married and nurtured each other until his passing in 1994. She honored his memory every year on their anniversary. 

Even with a busy life, Betty was devoted to her children, serving as a primary caregiver for William, sharing his love of the Green Bay Packers and helping him cultivate a variety of flavorful and hot peppers for homemade sauces. 

Survivors include her sister, Mary Jewett, and brother, Bill (Caroyln) Parks; children, William Hopkins, Melissa Hopkins-Norris, Beth (Steve) Krehbiel, and mike (Marla) Veenstra; grandchildren: Joshua, Corey (Stephanie), Bradi, Joel (Kelly), Ben, Amanda, Matthew, great-grandchildren: Madden, Maverick, Isabella, Christopher, Tyler, Kennedy, and Rylea.

Asked about the Lessons of life, she said: “The most important thing in life is to have the confidence and courage to go and be independent.”