Betty A. “Betts” Tangdall

Betty A. Tangdall

January 18, 1932 – October 14, 2021

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Theodore Enghoff; sister, Mary; brother, Bud; husband, Dr. Jim Tangdall; daughter-in-law, Pam Tangdall.  She is survived by children: Laurie (Dan) Kemp, Steve Tangdall, and Kris (Doug) Greenwald; grandchildren: Sara Tangdall, Alison Kemp, Danny Kemp, and Grace Greenwald.

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

In loving memory of Betty A. Tangdall

Our mom was married to our dad, Jim Tangdall, for 64 years.  During those years she raised three children:  Laurie, Steve, and Kris.  Betty, affectionately known as “Betts”, was a wonderful grandmother to Sara, Ali, Danny, and Grace.  During our Dad’s long career in District 66, Betty attended countless Westside High School athletic events, plays, musicals, dances, reunions, etc.  She was the glue to our family, the one who quietly kept things moving behind the scenes.  She loved spending time with family and friends, “wintering” in Gulf Shores, was an avid reader and sports enthusiast…especially Husker Volleyball!  We’d like to thank the staff and residents at Aksarben Assisted Living, the place Betty called home for the last 5 1/2 years.

Private Family Interment: Evergreen Memorial Park, Omaha Nebraska.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE Reception:  Sunday, October 24th from 5pm to 7pm at Spezia Restaurant, 3125 S. 72^nd St.

Memorials are suggested to The Westside Foundation.

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Betty was preceded in death by her infant sister, Mary Louise; father, Clifford Shackleton; parents, Helen and Theodore Enghoff; sister, Mary; brother, Bud; husband, Dr. James Tangdall; daughter-in-law, Pam Tangdall.  She is survived by children:  Laurie Kemp (Dan), Steve Tangdall, Kris Greenwald (Doug); grandchildren:  Sara Tangdall, Alison Kemp, Danny Kemp, and Grace Greenwald

Betty was born in Jewell, Kansas, on January 18, 1932, to Helen and Clifford Shackleton.  Clifford died when she was two years old and Helen married Betty’s adoptive father, Theodore Enghoff, when she was five.  They raised her in Superior, Nebraska, and she graduated from Superior High School in 1950.  Betty met her future husband, Jim Tangdall, when they were in the 1st grade and were “sweethearts” ever since.

Betty and Jim attended The University of Nebraska after high school; Betty graduating in 1952, with an Associate Degree in Elementary Education.  She taught 5th grade in rural Kansas, just south of Superior, while Jim completed his four-year degree.

They were married on June 8, 1954.  After a short honeymoon in Colorado, they drove to Long Beach, California for Jim’s service in the U.S. Navy.  When Jim was at sea, Betty returned to Superior, where Laurie was born.   After Jim served his country, they headed to Omaha, Nebraska, because one of Jim’s UNL professors told him about a “start-up district” he should be a part of…District 66.

They met their life-long friends during Jim’s years with Westside, and Betty attended almost every football/ basketball game, musical/play, and school dance.  She hosted countless late night “coffee’s”   they had so much fun!

They lived on Spring Street in Westgate for 41 years.  Betts was a wonderful mom to Laurie, Steve, and Kris…so kind and gracious, making all friends feel welcome.  She and Jim were members of Ralston Community Church where she taught Sunday School and was a member of many Ladies Church Circles.  Betts was dear friends with her neighbor women on Spring Street and they met for coffee (although Betts drank RC Cola in those days) every morning.  She LOVED to read!  She visited the Ralston Library weekly and read for hours every day.  

When they were 60 years old, Jim retired and they began a new chapter.  Betts loved to travel, Jim loved golf…so they attended professional golf tournaments in Chicago, Colorado, Las Vegas, Maui, Atlanta, and The Masters in Augusta.  They travelled with family or friends to Snowmass, Wichita, Vail, South Dakota, New York, Washington, D.C., London, France, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Rhode Island.  Bett’s favorite place of all was winters spent with close friends in Biloxi and especially Gulf Shores.  During those “golden years” they spent Friday Nights at Lakeview Golf Course with friends and family.  It was not unusual to see Betts at Lakeview drinking coffee with her best pal, Joan Koch, in the morning and then (if Friday) seeing them having a cocktail that evening.  They were great friends!

Betty loved her four grandchildren and they loved her!  She relived those Westside years with them, attending many of their events and parties.  Even in her final weeks, she was so interested in Grace’s tennis and Homecoming, and always wanted to know what Sara, Ali, and Danny were doing.  Betts was blessed to have been visited by each of them these past months.

In her final years she lived at Aksarben Assisted Living.  Betts was a sports enthusiast and this was a blessing the past two years.  As her hearing faded, she could watch and enjoy all things golf, Husker Football, KC Royals Baseball, Golden State Warriors Basketball, The Green Bay Packers, and her favorite…Husker Women’s Volleyball.  

She died peacefully in her sleep on October 14, 2021.  She will be missed by all who were touched by her kindness and pretty smile.