Betty Karsten, 94, of Oskaloosa and formerly of What Cheer, died Sunday, March 17, 2019 at the Serenity House Hospice in Oskaloosa. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery at What Cheer. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Serenity House Hospice or to the First Christian Church of What Cheer.

Betty Louise Karsten, 94, daughter of Willie Leslie Herrmann and Rozella Irene Herrmann, was born May 5, 1924 in What Cheer, IA.  She graduated from What Cheer High School in 1943.   Betty had a lifetime of serving others as a caregiver.  She was a cashier, cook, cleaned houses, and worked at Sigourney Hospital.  She was united in marriage to Burton Karsten, January 1, 1947 and together had one daughter Brenda Jo Callahan.  Burton and Betty were married 36 years and Burton passed away in 1983 and lived in What Cheer, IA.

Betty's life revolved around helping others and caring for her family.  Betty started at a young age caring for her sisters Dorothy Elizabeth Herrmann Little and Catherine Irene Hermann Myerly Shepherd after their father was killed in the line of service as a volunteer firefighter.  Betty's mother Irene went to work to support the family and Betty assumed the household chores and care giver for her sisters.   Betty enjoyed cooking, sewing, cleaning, gardening, and canning of food to make sure her family had enough to eat.

Betty prided herself in making sure everything was clean and tidy.  She always made sure the clothes were pressed and the shoes were shined and most importantly clean shoe strings.  We often called her "Luigi" she could be seen climbing on ladders washing windows and getting every last cobweb.  Betty made sure everything was clean and even made sure the closets were tidy and vacuumed.

She is preceded in death by her parents Leslie & Irene Herrmann and step father John Van Ee, her sisters Dorothy Little & Catherine Myerly Shepherd, her nieces Connie Sue Little, Judy Myerly Hopping, Lora Little Helm, and a granddaughter Amy Jo Callahan.

Betty is survived by her daughter Brenda & Paul Callahan of Oskaloosa, and grandchildren Jason & Tara Crile of Naples, Italy, Jon& Linda Callahan of Altoona, IA, Shane Callahan of Oskaloosa, and Bryan& Kathy Butler of Oskaloosa.  Great grandchildren Drew, Aiden, and Caitlin Crile of Naples, Italy, Dallan Karsten Callahan of Oskaloosa, and Colton & Cael Butler of Oskaloosa.  Cousin Donna Lawson of Dansville, IN.  Nieces Carolyn Strasser Harris, Jill Strasser Lind, Tammy Karsten Hartwig, Stacey Karsten, Kelly Karsten and nephews Roger Little of Blue Ridge, TX, Ronnie Little, of What Cheer, IA, Jeff Shepherd of Marengo, IA, Steve Karsten and Joey Karsten. She also leaves behind many great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.