Betty Jean Zwickl passed away March 19, 2017, in Mesa, Arizona. Betty was born on March 17, 1923, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Walter & Zelma Schaer.
Betty married Melvin J Zwickl on September 21, 1944, in Salina, Kansas. When Mel returned from the Army Air Corps they made their family home in Sidney, Nebraska.
In 1954 the family moved to Glenwood Springs where Betty held many part-time jobs while her children were young. This included working at the Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Cafe, Jacques Grand Avenue and Bomar Jewelry. Betty began full-time employment as a telephone operator with Mountain Bell. She went on to become chief operator of the Glenwood Springs office until its closing in 1980. She and Mel moved to Mesa, Arizona, where she transferred to the Phoenix telephone company and worked there until her retirement in March 1986.
Betty loved dancing and traveling. Mel was a square dance caller, and they would travel with local friends to many towns and even competed in several clogging competitions. After retiring Mel and Betty became world travelers while sailing on cruise ships. Betty also loved sewing, and her birthday packages were always filled with frilly dresses that delighted her granddaughters. Later she became quite accomplished in quilting and made beautiful quilts for all her children, grandchildren and even the great-grandchildren.
Betty is survived by her children, daughters Cheryl Hookey and Pam (Dan) Kotinek and son Ron (Judy) Zwickl, all of Mesa, and son Dermis (Michelle) Zwickl of Glenwood Springs. She also is survived by eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Internment at Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa, AZ, has taken place with no services per her request.