- Date Of Birth: May 15, 1933
- Date Of Death: April 09, 2021
- City: Flagler
- State: Colorado
Betty was born in Flagler, Colorado on May 15, 1933 in their family home to Jake and Everene Fruhling. Her older sister, Helen was sent across the pasture to the neighbors to await her arrival. She was the middle of three children, having one older sister, Helen May, and one younger brother, Robert.
Growing up she found great joy in playing the piano with her sister sitting beside her singing, participating in band, cheerleading, and other church and school activities, all driven by a love for the Lord that she found as a teenager. She loved spending time with her grandma Nora Wright. They spent many hours together working at the Flagler Theatre that her grandma owned. Hours passed quickly as she sold tickets and popcorn to the patrons coming in. She often laughed with memories of not only the movie nights, but the community roller-skating and dances when the chairs were rearranged in the theatre for those events. Above this same theatre would later be her first beauty shop.
In 1951 she graduated from Flagler High School and headed to Denver to attend Beauty School. However, graduation was not the only thing that changed her senior year. She had begun to take notice of a special farm boy who had had big blue eyes and wavy blond hair. Thus began a lifelong love story. Robert (Bob) Trahern stole her heart, and at the tender age of 20, they were married in Flagler on June 28, 1953. Bob’s family quickly took her in as one of their own, they came to be a very special part of her life. Betty often mentioned just how special Bob’s mother Elmo was to her.
Soon after they were married, they headed to Texas as Bob served in the Army for two years. They would return home to Colorado, landing in Sterling in 1955 for a job. Upon moving, they joined First Baptist Church, where she was baptized, and served the church body in a number of ways. Although they were not always where she felt the most comfortable, it was always where there was a need. She loved singing alto in the choir and the women’s trio. She was Sunday School secretary for years, served on the church board and welcome crew, and enjoyed serving others as a deaconess. During their early years in Sterling, Betty gave birth to two beautiful daughters, and along with raising them, she occasionally gave haircuts and perms from her home. She made sure the girls were always active at church and taught them the importance of knowing Christ and being part of a church that helped them grow. The girls were her treasure, and she loved sewing for them and their dolls. She always made sure their hair was curled and they had a hand sewn dress for special occasions.
During this time, they were also a boarding house for college boys at “602” Broadway. She would make homemade cookies that they frequently cleaned out, leaving her notes to please make more! Pizza parties were a highlight for their family and the guys as she made countless homemade pizzas on the weekends. This time in their life led to several lifelong friendships. Their home was filled not only with people, but oftentimes with music. She loved to play piano and sing, but she also oftentimes put on a good record to enjoy a dance with Bob in their living room.
As their daughters grew, so did a dream to own land in the country and build a home. They would live in 10 different houses in the Sterling area as they saved for their dream. In 1973, they finished their new home and move to Vansway Acres. Vansway was the start of a whole new adventure for her as she learned to be a “farmer’s” wife. She worked alongside Bob planting trees, irrigating the alfalfa, rounding up the cattle, turning on the water for the cattle (in high heels on her way to church), bottle feeding calves, and cheering on the few race horses they nurtured. Although this life was different, she stepped into it with perseverance and love. She enjoyed making homemade ice cream from the fresh cream that came from their milking cow, and always having fresh beef in the freezer as their farm thrived. They were able to expand further when they purchased Trahern Hay and Grinding, Inc, where she enjoyed working alongside Bob as his office manager, his lunch packer, and “Girl Friday”. After working each day side by side, they enjoyed spending Saturday evenings out with friends at the Elks. The girls remember how much she loved getting dressed up when they were going out. They loved to watch her get ready, always slipping into her high heels last. She had a timeless beauty that would capture the girls’ hearts.
As the girls grew and married, having families of their own, Bob and Betty embraced this new stage of life with open arms. They loved traveling to Minnesota and Kansas to visit Shelley and Paula’s families. This time held many hours spent shopping, playing games, and much laughter around meals. She loved going to each grandchild’s activities as well as celebrating birthdays and milestones. Her and Bob were always ready with a big hug and encouragement as the grandkids pursued their interests and dreams. She was always so proud to get to watch each one.
They also took this time to travel to Arizona together, where they would also get to see her sister Helen and husband Dean creating many special memories. Years of holidays, food, laughter, and reunions together with Bob’s family led to his’ siblings and their spouses deciding to also travel together to places such as Missouri and Tennessee led by the fearless twosome Mother Elmo and Aunt Nona. These trips left Bob and Betty with tons of fun stories which they shared often accompanied by much laughter.
Betty’s life was filled with love from beginning to end. Surrounded by family and lifelong friends that always made sure she was looked after and encouraged. Her sister Helen and niece Deanna always remained faithful sending cards and calling her weekly. Her sweet neighbors, the Knutsons checking on her daily after Bob passed away, making sure she was safe and healthy when family couldn’t be with her. Her sweet friends Goldie and Ruth with their calls of encouragement, and Betty Bellendir who called everyday to check on her and pray for her were God’s grace in her moments at home. She adored each of them, and was so thankful to have each of them in her life. As she aged and was moved to Devonshire, the staff there made her feel special and loved. She grew to love her community there, calling it home.
Bob and Betty, Betty and Bob. They were always together throughout life on earth and in anticipation of life in Heaven, her face lit up when speaking of being reunited with the love of her life, and most of all her Savior, Jesus Christ. She had a life well lived.
Betty is survived by daughter, Shelley Nehl and her husband, Philip, and their children Nora (Brandon) Whitney; Adam (Shawna) Nehl, and Aaron (Larissa) Nehl along with 6 great grandchildren.
Daughter, Paula Levin and her husband, John, and their children Haley (Shane) Lester; Shyree (Blake) Wiswell and Isaac (Samantha) Levin along with 7 great grandchildren.
Betty’s sister Helen Lewis and niece Deanna (Ray) Lazarra; sister-in-law Gail Fruhling and children.
Sisters-In-Law: Pat (Tom) Jensen, Maryln Elrick, June Trahern and 19 Trahern nieces and nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by husband, Robert G. Trahern; Brother, Robert Fruhling; Parents, Jake and Everene Fruhling, Niece, Sylvia Fletcher. Brothers-in-law: Chuck (Lou) Trahern, James (Kay and Glennis) Trahern, William Elrick, William Trahern.
