Betty D. (Shearer) Nielsen was born March 24, 1933, the oldest child of Dewey A. and Flossie M. (Beardsley) Shearer on the farm near Murray, Iowa.   At age 12, Betty moved with her family to the Plainview, Nebraska area.  She attended country school through the 8th grade, one year at Plainview High School, one year at Brunswick High School and graduated from Plainview High School in 1951.  Betty taught school for one year after graduation and then worked at various businesses in Creighton, Nebraska.

She was united in marriage to Rolande O. Nielsen on February 20, 1956 and the two moved to Colorado later that year.  To this union, four children were born, Rolande Jr. “Rolly”, Pamela and twins Wade and Wanda.  After various jobs and moves, Rolly Sr. and Betty returned to Nebraska with their family.  They lived in the Ponca area, Grand Island area and eventually settled in Elk Creek in 1973, where the children all graduated from Elk Creek High School.  Betty went to work for the Campbell’s Soup Company in Tecumseh and retired in 1985 after 12 ½ years.  She then worked for Scotty’s Grocery and Catering for several years part time.  Betty loved working with the Elk Creek Community in the catering/grocery business and officially retired at age 80.  Her husband Rolly, Sr. passed away March 25, 1996.  Betty remained in Elk Creek until moving to the Tecumseh Manor in June of 2013.

Betty had been a member of the United Methodist Church in Boelus, Elk Creek until its closing and Tecumseh.  She was baptized in the American Lutheran Church in Maskell, Nebraska.  She enjoyed her membership with the Tecumseh United Methodist Women and assisted with funeral luncheons and church functions as long as she was able.  Betty received her 50-year membership award from the United Methodist Church.  She was a great friend to many and was involved with many Elk Creek activities.   

Betty was a 48-year member of the Tracy Bates American Legion Auxiliary Unit in Elk Creek.  She was the president for several years and went to district and county meetings as well as volunteering at lunches.  She and Wanda placed the crosses at Mt. Hope for a few years. Betty had a kind heart, a sweet smile and will be dearly missed.

She passed away November 2, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 88 years.

Betty is survived by her children, Pam Hanika and husband Kent of Lincoln, Wade Nielsen and wife Michele of Wilsonville, AL, Wanda Nielsen of Tecumseh and daughter-in-law, Tami Nielsen of Elk Creek, step-daughters, Lela Musgrave Adams and Linda Nielsen, grandchildren, Jason and Sonia Nielsen, Chelsea and Cody Waller and children, Jaxson, Jarett and Jace, Tony and Cassie Steen and children Eli and Olivia Smith, Anthony, Madeline, Laylah and Carissa Steen, Chaunn Nielsen and son Skyler, Austin Nielsen, Brittani and Chase Skinner and children Jamison, Wyatt and Harrison, Justin and Stephanie Knauss and children, Taliah, Zane and Jemma, Amber and Nathan Crumpton and daughter Kemper, Tessa and Bailey Benton and son Weston, Wanda’s step-children, Terri Kerner Riggs, Rick Kerner and Tracy Kerner and their families, Lela’s children, Jonathan and Yoli Musgrave and children, Verna and Chris Harner and children, Andrew and Amber Musgrave and children, Esther (Musgrave) Meyer and husband John and Philip and Jennifer Musgrave and children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Rolly Sr., son, Rolly Jr., granddaughter Alisha Hanika Steen, son-in-law Gene Kerner, great-granddaughter, Lydia Harner, brothers, Gerald and Danny Shearer, sister Shirley Beckman and husband Everett “Tuffy Beckman and Justin Stewart.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Rev. Angie Vertz officiating.  The service was also livestreamed on the Wherry Mortuary/Wherry Monument Facebook page and a link to the livestream is on the bottom of Betty's webpage.  

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family 6-8 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2021 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the family's choice.

Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. in the Mount Hope Cemetery, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska. 

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.