Le Mars, IA – Betty J. Kommes, 71, of Le Mars passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at Unity Point Health in Sioux City. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 27, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Reverend Timothy Geitz will officiate. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday February 26, 2017 with the family present from 5-7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will also be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral service on Monday.

Elizabeth (Betty) Julia Johnson was born on December 6, 1945, in Le Mars, Iowa, the daughter of Roy and Myra (Specht) Johnson. She graduated from Marcus High School in 1964, then—with a passion for helping others—became a surgical technician. Ever the loyal woman, Betty spent 39 years at Floyd Valley Hospital as a surgical tech. She was committed to both her career and her team, who lovingly referred to her as B.J.

On May 5, 1973, Betty married Leonard Joseph Kommes at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. The couple was blessed with three children—Brent, Angela, and Heidi—and spent much of their time together as a family. Outside of the couple’s weekly date night activities, the family of five enjoyed annual family vacations and spent many weekends on the lake boating and on the golf course. In addition to her own children, she was considered a second mom to many of her children’s friends.

After Leonard passed away on September 25, 2005, Betty and her family—which slowly grew to include five grandchildren—continued to take annual vacations together, including frequent trips to various lake cabins, along with adventures into the Black Hills and even the mountains of Colorado. True to Betty’s positive attitude and appreciation for the simple things in life, she spent the days of vacation relaxing with a cup of coffee enjoying her surroundings of grandkids, children, and the outdoors.

In addition to her family, Betty had a close relationship with God and was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. She loved spending time fellowshipping with church members, and she participated in the Ruth Circle, Altar Guild and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). A couple of Betty’s favorite sayings were that “everything is in God’s hands,” and we just have to take life “minute by minute” because “it can always be worse.” When she was not volunteering at the church or spending time with her family, Betty spent countless hours enjoying coffee and conversation with her closest friends.

Grateful to have shared her life are her children and their spouses, Brent and Larissa Kommes of Elk Point, SD, Angela and Patrick Jones of Sioux Falls, SD and Heidi and John Costello of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren, Sailor and Slade Kommes, Marshal, Charlie and Lennon Jones; a sister, Patty and Dave Laubenthal of Spencer, IA; brothers, Wayne and Teresa Johnson of Greely, CO and John and Marirose Johnson of Marcus, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; a sister, Linda Johnson; and a brother, Vern Johnson.