Betty Ruth (Behne) Hines
Betty Ruth (Behne) Hines
Kirkland, WA
Betty Ruth (Behne) Hines, 86, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Kirkland, Washington. Betty was born October 22, 1937, in Rosebud, Texas to Manuel and Olga (Maas) Behne. Betty had a very humble childhood with her family moving around frequently within Texas which resulted in her attending four different high schools.
After graduating high school Betty moved to Waco, Texas where she met her future husband, (Lt. Col.) Harry D. Hines, who was an USAF flight instructor at James Connally AFB in Waco, Texas. They married on November 7, 1959. The marriage took her outside of Texas for the first time in her life to Portland, OR, Oscoda, MI and for four years in Holland. The time in Holland allowed her to visit countries like Denmark, Russia and Spain.
She moved to Cedar Rapids in 1973 after Harry’s retirement from the service where she raised her family of five children. Betty worked for more than 20 years for the Cedar Rapids School District. She began her career as a part-time interpreter for the deaf. Full-time work came her way working in the libraries at Garfield and Jackson elementary schools.
Betty kept busy in her retirement years with travels to Alaska, Italy, Spain, China and snorkeling in Hawaii for her 70th birthday. When not traveling around the world, she prioritized attending her grandchildren’s activities including athletic events, scouting ceremonies, musical concerts, the receiving of religious sacraments, high school graduations and the showing of animals at fairs. Having her grandchildren spend the night was always very special to her that usually ended in a waffle breakfast (gluten-free of course). In her free time Betty enjoyed reading, attending plays, bowling, sewing, going for walks, riding her bike and playing bridge.
Betty’s survivors include her children, Lisa (David) Wylie of Oro Valley, AZ; Joseph Hines of Tucson, AZ; William (Jennifer) Hines of Davenport, IA; Donald (Erica) Hines of Sammamish, WA; and Jennifer (Branden) Huxtable of Kent, WA; thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings (Leola Dodd, James Behne, Gene Behne and M.J “Jerry” Behne).
Graveside services are planned for 11:00AM, Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services.