Betty J. Gaerte

Betty Gaerte, 94, North Manchester died August 28, 2018 at Parkview Huntington Hospital at 3:59 A.M. She was born September 14, 1923 in Wabash, Indiana to Ernest and Lora (Alberson) Kilander. On April 9, 1941, Betty married Herbert Gaerte Sr. He passed away February 21, 2002.

As a young women she was an active farm wife, working alongside her husband while raising five children. In later years, she lovingly cared for her husband at home and as he spent his last years in Peabody Retirement Community. She enjoyed doing crafts, sewing, and was an avid reader. She worked hard all her life, even caring for her own yard until the last year of her life.

Betty is remembered by one son Joel D. (Gaye) Gaerte, North Manchester, Indiana; three daughters Georgianna Hileman, North Manchester, Indiana, Trudy (Jim) Rule, North Manchester, Indiana, Sherian (Rod) Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colorado; seventeen grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, and eleven great great-grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, one son Herbert Gaerte Jr., two grandchildren, and one son-in-law Michael H. Hileman.

Services for Betty Gaerte will be Saturday, September 1, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, Indiana. Friends and family may call Friday, August 31, 2018 from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. at McKee Mortuary. Pastor JP Freeman will officiate and burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery. For those who wish to honor the memory of Betty Gaerte, memorial contributions may be made to the Wabash County Cancer Society, PO Box 144, North Manchester, Indiana 46962.