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TRAER- Betty Jane Messersmith, 86, of Traer died Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 at Sunrise Hill Care & Rehab Center in Traer of natural causes. A memorial service is planned on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Traer with internment to follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethany Cemetery in rural Baxter. There will be no visitation.

Betty Jane Messersmith was born December 31, 1922 in Waterloo, the daughter of Donald and Prue Hahn Bandfield. Betty received her education in Waterloo and was a graduate of East High School in 1941. Betty was married to Harold Franklin Messersmith and they made their home Des Moines, Cody, Wyo. and for many years in the Baxter, area. Betty worked with her husband at the Baxter New Era Paper and other papers in the area. She later worked for the Jasper County Tribune. For the past 10 years she has made her home in the Traer Community and was member of the United Methodist Church in Traer. Betty's death came at the Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at the age of 86 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harold Franklin in 1974, one son John William in 1991 and three brothers Harold, Robert and Arlo.

She is survived by two daughters Marianne (Craig) Hillemeier of Hummelstown, Pa. and Carolyn (Eric) Laursen of Salt Lake City, Utah, one sister Mary (Ivan) Stansbery of Traer, and four grandchildren Thomas and Mary Hillemeier and Sarah and Emma Laursen.