Obituaries : Elizabeth (Betty) June DeGraff

Elizabeth (Betty) June DeGraff, 99, of Van Horne, Iowa, passed away at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy on Friday, April 3, 2026.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM Friday, also at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, Iowa, and Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne, Iowa.

  She was born on August 1, 1926 to Joseph and Elsie (Craig) Webb of Mitchellville, Iowa.  Betty was baptized in the Congregational Church in Mitchellville.  As a teen she was active in choir and youth group activities.  In school she became involved in music, drama, girls’ basketball, and was co-editor of the school newspaper.  Betty graduated from Mitchellville High School in 1944.  

After graduation, Betty went to work at Western Mutual Insurance Company in Des Moines, Iowa.  In the summer of 1945, she met the love of her life, Don DeGraff.  They were married at the Congregational Church in Mitchellville, Iowa on June 16, 1946 and would go on to enjoy 70 years of marriage.

After they wed, Don and Betty resided in the Bondurant and Mitchellville areas where Don farmed.  

In 1956, Don was offered a position with a company in eastern Iowa, which led the family to Van Horne, Iowa.  They found a wonderful church and school community, many new friends, and the opportunity to open their own business, DeGraff Milling.  Betty became the bookkeeper, which became important later in her life.

Family was important, so time dedicated to their church, school, and social activities became a priority.  Teenagers were fondly welcomed in their home with an “open door” policy.  Some of these teens looked to Don and Betty as surrogate parents and received caring and loving guidance and became part of the family.

In 1976, Betty faced a new chapter in her life.  She was offered a position as study hall monitor for Benton Community High School.  She would later go on to be the food service treasurer.  She began the most fulfilling, yet challenging, 26 years of employment with the school system, a decision she never regretted.  She loved working with the teenagers, her co-workers, and highly dedicated staff of educators.

She is survived by her son, Jon (Candace) DeGraff, daughter, Jan (Marty) Thomae, grandchildren; Seth Silhanek, Rebecca (Michael) Weber, Derek Thomae, Daniel Thomae,  Rachel (Drew) Frederick, Holly (Ben) Anderson, and Brandon Otto; great-grandchildren; Jackson Silhanek, Calvin Weber, Beckham Thomae, Toni and Tristan Thomae, Dax and Ren Frederick, Tennant and Evelyn Strydom, Noah and Angel Anderson, several nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as special neighbor kids, Simon and Sophia Carlson.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Don, her parents, brother Charles (Chuck) Webb, sister Catherine (Kate) Reynolds, granddaughter, Kailee Thomae, and numerous beloved in-laws, cousins, aunts and uncles.  

Online Condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com