Betty Ann (Holzapfel) Record

Betty Ann (Holzapfel) Record

June 22, 1933 – April 12, 2022

Betty was born on June 22, 1933 to Frank and Elizabeth Holzapfel in Omaha Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Holzapfel Sr; her mother, Elizabeth Holzapfel (Reeh); her sister, Catherine Holzapfel; and brother, Frank Holzapfel, Jr.

Betty attended St. Joseph grade school and graduated from Omaha South High School in 1951.  Shortly after graduating she met her future husband, Jerry Record.  He pursued her hard, and finally won her hand in marriage on May 6, 1954.  They spent most of their married life living in South Omaha and moved out to “the middle of nowhere” (Southwest Omaha) in 2012, living across the street from their daughter Jane and her family (the rest of the daughters remind Jane frequently that she was the one that encouraged them to move there).

After graduating from high school, Betty worked at First National Bank in Omaha as a Proof Operator.  She left that job prior to the arrival of their first daughter, after which Betty was a full-time wife, mother, housekeeper, cook, and all around domestic goddess.  Living a block from her childhood home, Betty also cared for her mother, who visited every day to watch soap operas with her and then have dinner with the family.  Betty took pride in her home and enjoyed planting and tending a garden each year.  One of her favorite hobbies was hanging wallpaper, and there were many times Jerry and the girls would come home to find rooms with a completely new look!  She learned to sew, and each year the girls all got new outfits for the start of school as well as matching flannel nightgowns at Christmas.  She did have a little trouble measuring the elastic for those nightgown sleeves correctly, and inevitably the girls would wake up the next morning to swollen wrists.  Betty loved to read and do puzzles.  There was always a book on her nightstand and a puzzle in progress on the dining room table.  She and Jerry also liked to play cards and had a standing card game with friends every Saturday night for many years.  She loved movies and listening to music, and she had a passion for “junk shopping.”

One of Betty’s lifelong passions was traveling, and some of her fondest memories were the trips the family took to Colorado, as well as the RV trip to a Nebraska game at Notre Dame with her cousins; she would laugh every time she talked about how they smuggled a bush back from a national forest there.  She and Jerry were able to travel to Alaska, Hawaii, Niagara Falls, Puerto Rico, Central America, and points in between.  She enjoyed just getting in the car and letting Jerry drive until they ended up somewhere; she always was a bit of a wanderlust.

Betty rejoined the workforce as the girls got older, and always talked about her days at Quick Mail and how grateful she was for her job there.  She went on to work at ConAgra in their print shop, which she retired from in 1998. Many lasting friendships were made during these years.

Betty is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jerry, and their four daughters: Jane Altman (Mark), Lori Justman (Ken), Barbara Woods (David), and Carol Mumma (John); six grandchildren: Andrew Altman, Kevin Altman, Kathryn Justman, Alex Justman (Cassie), Mitchell Woods (fiancée, Whitney), and Lindsey Woods.  She is also survived by her “extremely well-fed” cat Simba.  With her family all still in Omaha (and one across the street), she always had company.  Betty is also survived by her cousin Rita, whom she considered to be more like a sister to her; other relatives and friends.

The last two years of her life were difficult, as she struggled with Lewy Body Dementia, and eventually lung cancer.  She looked forward to daily visits from her family, and the many sweets and snacks Jerry smuggled in every time he visited her.  Betty passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 surrounded by her family.  She was blessed to be supported not only by her family, but also AseraCare Hospice (Allison and Dawnielle), as well as the caring staff at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Betty’s honor will be directed by the family.

VISITATION: Sunday, April 24th from 3pm to 5pm at the West Center Chapel.