Betty L. Tinken

Betty Tinken (Hall), 94, of Gilmore City, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital in Humboldt. 

Betty was born on January 8, 1929 in Ottumwa, Iowa as Betty Marcine Hartley. In 1934 Betty was adopted by Fred and Violet Hall. Betty detasseled corn and babysat, worked at Clayton's Variety Story, Mollander’s Studio, the telephone office, Stevenson’s Garage and the Reminder Office in Humboldt.  She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1947 and went on to college at Waldorf College in Forest City. She married Burton Tinken on April 3, 1949 in Humboldt.  In 1950 she was reunited with her biological siblings and increased her love for family. Betty and Burton attained the current farm in Gilmore City in 1963 and farmed until Burton retired in 1980.  Betty also began Tinken’s Resale Shop. First used clothing and eventually used furniture and antiques.  Betty and Burton enjoyed going to auctions and going to dances. Betty was an accomplished painter and often crocheted and quilted.  In 1980, they started traveling, enjoying their visits to Hawaii and Texas. They started to be “winter Texans” and had such wonderful friends over the years in their second home in La Feria, Texas.  She was a fun-loving individual who loved life and who was passionate about her family.

Betty is survived by her children Randy (Bel) Tinken, La Feria, Texas, Linda Ford (Kim Swanson), Gilmore City, Tim (Kim) Tinken, Humboldt, and Becky Carman, Clare. In her life, Betty loved her 5 children, 16 grandchildren: Travis (Amy) Tinken, Corey (Wendy) Tinken, Tami (Joe Waldner), Stacey (Jamie) Skinner, Patti (Terry) Maki, Shari (Brian) Nepstad, Cindy (Craig) Sandven, Bobbi Ford, Erika (Craig) Bibeau, Jeremy (Alicia) Tinken, Davin Tinken, Janelle (Daren) Dugan, Joel (Cassie) Harklau and Garret Carman, 35 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren and her step-sister, Wanda Christensen Dorsey, Calendar, Iowa.

Betty was preceded in death by her loving husband, Burton Tinken in 2001. Son, Larry Tinken, grandchild Madonna Tinken and great grandson, Nicholas Potter. Parents, Fred and Violet Hall. Step mother Esther Christensen Hall, mother in-law, Ennis and Vera (Terwilliger) Tinken, sister, Tressa (Kenny) Strahorn, brother-in-law, Steve Dorsey, brother, Ben (Yasuko) Hartley, sister, Rose (Nick) Fascillia, brother Jim (Shirley) Hartley, sister, Gwen (Virgil) Dunnick, brother, Robert Hartley, step brother, Richard Dale Christensen and her special friend Mel Stearns.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 2^nd at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.  Burial will be in Union Cemetery.  The Mason-Lindhart Funeral & Cremation Service of Humboldt is in charge of the arrangements.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Betty’s life.   www.masonlindhart.com