- Date Of Birth: February 16, 1938
- Date Of Death: April 8, 2022
- State: Iowa
Betty Alice Grundberg passed away surrounded by family on April 8th, 2022. She was born February 16, 1938, in Woden, Iowa, to Edwin Henry Meyer & Eva Ruth Valley.
Betty and Arnie started dating in high school. According to Arnie, Betty “took me under her wing, and I knew I was home.” Betty and Arnie married on New Year’s Eve in 1960, at the University of Iowa Chapel. For over 61 years, Betty and Arnie were in love.
Betty was never daunted by a challenge, and played high school basketball, despite being only 5 feet tall. She once scored over 50 points in a game. Basketball was a metaphor for her life, and she continued to overcome expectations in every endeavor.
Betty was passionate about education. She received a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College and a master’s degree from University of Iowa. She taught high school and supported the drama and yearbook clubs and chaperoned the girls’ basketball team. While her children were in school, Betty spent 16 years on the Des Moines School Board. She served as President of the Board and was honored to help implement the United States Supreme Court decision to integrate public schools. Betty and Arnie also funded a college education for all of their children and grandchildren.
Arnie and Betty traveled the world together. Every Christmas for 25 years, their children and grandchildren spent a week in Mazatlán, Mexico, for cherished time with their family. Once Latvia regained its independence from the USSR in the 1990’s, they made several trips to Arnie’s native Latvia, and often brought along children, grandchildren, and relatives.
Betty fought for equality. As a teacher, Betty was not paid the same as male teachers, as she was not considered the head of household. This was one of the many reasons she was a lifelong feminist. She supported education, mental health progress, and women’s rights. Betty served 10 years as a Representative in the Iowa House. As a state representative, Betty was Chair of the Education Committee. She recognized that mental health was an illness and worked across the aisle to back mental health causes. Betty also supported and volunteered for the League of Women Voters, Women’s Political Caucus, Planned Parenthood Book Sale, Orchard Place, NAMI, and numerous other groups. Betty was honored for her work as a Business Record Women of Influence in 2002.
Betty was also an entrepreneur, she started a renovation business and maintained ownership for 40 years. Betty and Arnie purchased several historical buildings around Des Moines including the Wetherell apartment building on Grand Avenue and the Kohrs mansion in Davenport. She spent significant time personally restoring the properties. Betty enjoyed landscaping and would spend hours planting flowers and weeding to perfection.
Betty never seemed to age. She often enjoyed walking the mile from home to La Mie for a latte and pastry. For several years, the grandchildren would meet Arnie and Betty there for breakfast before school. She ran her renovation business until she was 80 years old. Betty regularly walked with 6-foot 2-inch Arnie, and she usually set the pace. Until her passing, she was regularly walking, planting flowers, reading books, and discussing political issues.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Eva Ruth. Betty will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Arnie Grundberg; her children, Mike (Julie) Grundberg, Christy (Dan) Blome, Susie (Bill) Anderson, and Julie Grundberg; her siblings, Dean (Kathy) Meyer, Keith Meyer, and Evelyn (Larry-late) Johnson; as well as her grandchildren, Amanda and Josh Blome, Jack, Sam and Allie Anderson, and Norbert and Gerhard Grundberg.
