Betty Heule

COLUMBUS–Betty L. Heule, 85, of Columbus, NE, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Brookestone Acres in Columbus, NE.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 16, 2025, at Palmer-Santin Funeral Home in Fullerton, NE with Pastor Doug Holt officiating. Burial will follow at Bureau Cemetery by Pierce Chapel, rural Clarks, NE. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the funeral home. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home of Fullerton, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Betty Lee Heule, daughter of Willard W. Breaker and granddaughter of Fred and Nellie Breaker, was born March 5, 1940, in Atwood, KS. She grew up in Orleans, NE, before moving to Grand Island, NE. There, she attended Grand Island Senior High and graduated with the class of 1958. While in high school, Betty worked at a laundry service for two years. She would take the money she made and save for a new outfit and shoes.

On October 8, 1961, Betty was united in marriage to Cecil D. Heule at the Trinity Methodist Church in Grand Island. From this union, Betty was blessed with three children, and they moved to Fullerton, NE, where they raised their family. Betty worked at the Fullerton hospital for eight years and at Clara’s Café for a short time. In 1972, they moved to Columbus where she continued to live until her passing.

Betty worked at the Columbus Hospital as a sterilization and operating room technician. She also worked as an aide on the floor and in surgery for 28 years until her retirement in 2000. Following her retirement, you would often find her and Cecil enjoying their morning cup of coffee at Hardee’s, Big Apple Bagels, and more recently at Arby’s. In her free time, Betty enjoyed reading, embroidery, tending to her flowers, working on her puzzle books, and caring for her grandchildren.

Betty is survived by her three children: Colleen Miller; Doug (Ruth) Heule; and Chris (Mel) Chavez, all of Columbus, NE; five grandchildren: Alyssa (Hunter) Welch of Columbus, NE; Gaby (Jacob) Ritterbush of Cedar Rapids, NE; and Allie Chavez (fiancé, Sederick Kehler) and Dani and Ezzy Chavez, both of Columbus, NE; four step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; along with other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Heule in 2016; parents; grandparents; brother, Donald Breaker, Sr.; and son-in-law, Larry Miller.