Elizabeth J. Dickinson

Elizabeth J. “Betty” Dickinson, 90, of Newton, died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1115 S. Eighth Ave. E. in Newton. Memorials to the donor’s choice or to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church may be left at the church on the morning of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. Memorials may also be mailed to the funeral home please add, Attn: Dickinson Family on the envelope.

Betty, the daughter of Willard J. and Hazel M. (Brenner) Dickinson was born in Duluth, Minn. She moved to Newton in 1931. Betty graduated as salutatorian from Newton High School in 1943. She then received her bachelor of science in commerce from the University of Iowa in 1948.

Betty worked for three years at Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, following her graduation from the University of Iowa. In 1951, she joined the Maytag Company in Newton, as the executive director of the Maytag Company Foundation, retiring in 1989, after 38.8 years.

Betty was a lifelong member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she had served as a Eucharistic Minister. From 1965-2000, she served as a director/officer of the Sacred Heart Cemetery Association. She was also a member of the Theta Chi Sorority, Newton Country Club, Newton High School Alumni Association, Jasper County Historical Society, Skiff Medical Center Auxiliary, Maytag Management Club, the U.S. Golf Association, the “Die Hard” Cubs Fan Club and the University of Iowa Presidents’ Club. She has endowed the Elizabeth J. Dickinson Scholarship Fund at the University of Iowa, making financial aid available to future incoming freshman students.

Betty was interested in Newton city government; she attended and graduated from both the Newton Citizen Academy and the Newton Citizen Police Academy. She also participated as a volunteer for numerous community organizations, including Project AWAKE (treasurer 1990-2001), the Newton Dollars for Scholars Chapter, McCann Village and the Newton Transformation Council. Betty enjoyed playing golf; she was the winner of nine Country Club Ladies’ Championships from 1958-1985. She also enjoyed watching TV broadcasts of the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Betty resided at Wesley Park Centre from its opening in 1992, until her death. She was active there; she was historian for 16 years and secretary for two years.

Those left to cherish Betty’s memory are her 12 nieces and nephews and their children; her many friends; and all of the Maytag Scholarship recipients she helped over her career.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Mary Martin, Catherine McAnlyand and Patti Dickinson; and three brothers, Willard, Gregory and in infancy James Dickinson.