Betty grew up in Western, Nebraska, attending public school there from first grade until high school graduation in May of 1955.
During her high school years Betty excelled in music. She played saxophone in the Western High School Band, sang in numerous small groups, and received a Superior rating for her solo performances at district music competitions. She played the piano and organ at the Western Methodist Church and sang in the church choir.
After graduating from high school, Betty took “Normal Training” at Fairbury Junior College to prepare for teaching school. She taught all elementary grades, 1st through the 6th grade, in a one room schoolhouse 5 miles north of Western, NE. She loved the opportunity, and she gave her all to teaching the children. The school board hated to lose her as the teacher there, but she was going to be married to Deane Younkin who was soon to join the U.S. Army.
They were married on June 15, 1958 in the Western Methodist Church. After a short honeymoon, they made their temporary home in two different apartments while living in Lincoln, NE. When Deane left for the Army to be stationed at Fort Riley, KS., Betty went with him and they lived in a tiny apartment in Junction City, KS. In each place they lived, Betty did a wonderful job of making those apartments feel like home. She was a wonderful wife and homemaker.
When Deane left for Germany, Betty moved back to Lincoln and rented an apartment with another young woman.
She worked for Gold & Co. in the optical department and then in Gold’s Food Basket in the bakery department. Betty loved the jobs she had while Deane was gone. She always made the best of what was going on in her life at the time.
Betty was offered an opportunity to take a teaching position at LARC School. She accepted the position and loved teaching the children there that had special needs. After LARC school closed, she was offered a teaching position at General Arnold School, again teaching children with special needs. Betty taught there until she was told that she would have to further her education, which was not an option. She took a position at the ARC office located in downtown Lincoln for a short period of time.
Betty loved Tupperware food storage products and with the encouragement of a friend, she decided to try her hand at selling the products she was so excited about. She started out as a consultant, holding “home parties”, teaching others about the products. She soon became a manager, teaching consultants as well as her customers the benefits of using Tupperware. Her career in sales spanned 55+ years.
Betty was a longtime member of the Havelock United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and sang in the church choir.
In January of 2017, her husband Deane passed away and Betty remained in the home that they purchased and lived in for many years in University Place in Lincoln.
When she could no longer live alone, she lived for a time at Gramercy Hill Assisted Living. She was a patient at Tabitha for a time and then became a resident, where she resided until her death June 17, 2024.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Helen Damke, her husband Deane, and brother-in-law Jack Nebelsick.
She is survived by her sister, Bonnie Nebelsick, and her niece Becky (Nick) Whitney, and nephew Tom (Ogie) Nelson, cousins and other nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday July 13th, 2024 at 10:00am at Havelock United Methodist Church (4140 N 60th St, Lincoln, NE 68507).