Betty J. Riese, 85, of Grand Island died Tuesday, December 04, 2012 at Wedgewood Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Fr. Alex Borzych will officiate. Burial will be in Cedarview Cemetery in Doniphan. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament with a Scripture Wake Service at 7 pm.

Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is serving the family.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Francis Daycare Foster Grandparents Program.

Mrs. Riese was born on February 28, 1927 at Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. She grew up in Nebraska and received her education in Hastings and Grand Island. Following high school she attended Beauty School and operated a Beauty Salon out of her family home.

She was united in marriage to B.J. Riese on November 29, 1947 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island. The couple made their home in Doniphan where they farmed for 27 years. She later worked at the Chaparral Restaurant in Miller and Paine. She retired at the age of 62 and spent 15 years with the St. Francis Daycare Foster Grandparent Program. B.J. and Betty recently celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary.

Betty was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. She enjoyed working with plastic canvas needlework and doing crossword puzzles. Most of all Betty loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband B.J. of Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Terry (Joann) Riese of Olmitz, KS; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Judy Bell of Grand Island, Bonnie (Dennis) Pittz of Hastings and Beth (Tom) Burk of Guthrie, OK.

Also surviving are 11 Grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and a brother and sister-in-law, Robert (Pat) Hoppe of Springfield, NE.