Bettie Robinson

Bettie Luella Lingle Robinson, 90, passed away on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola. Bettie was born Oct. 7, 1930, the eldest daughter of Frank Russel Lingle and Rose Lorraine Logsdon Lingle.

Bettie attended Southwest Community College, where she gained her nursing degree. She worked in offices and cared for the elderly in home as a traveling nurse in southern Iowa.

Bettie married Jack Robinson June 15, 1973, in Des Moines. They spent 35 years together until his passing in 2008. One of their favorite pastimes was to drive through central and southern Iowa, down endless gravel roads just to see where the roads would take them. They enjoyed each other’s company and conversation over the many miles.

Bettie raised goats with her husband, enjoyed fishing and was a voracious reader. She had a near-photographic memory and had a near genius IQ. She was witty and creative, sensitive and tenderhearted.

Bettie had two sons, Steven Cook Sr. and William Cody Robinson.

She gave birth to Steven in 1949 and raised him through early struggles in central and southern Iowa.

When an ailment progressed to the point in 1973 where Steven needed a kidney, she gave him one of hers. Her second gift of life allowed her son to meet and then marry his wife, ultimately giving Bettie two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Bettie went on to live more than half her life, nearly 48 years, after her kidney donation.

She also went on, with her husband Jack, and in her 50s to become a parent again as they adopted their son William Cody Robinson, raising him in southern Iowa, as well, just as she had her son Steve so many years before.

Bettie is survived by her son William Cody (Hannah) Robinson, of Humeston, sister Kathay (Craig) Hoyt of Davis City, grandson Steven (Laurie) Cook Jr., of Schenectady, NY, granddaughter Rachael Ayers-Arnone, of Iowa City, niece Toni (Ray) Ford, of Des Moines, niece Teresa (Shawn) Nolan-Roush (Shawn) and niece Jean Lantz, and Bettie’s five great-grandchildren and other nieces and nephews.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents, son Steven Sr., husband Jack, siblings Russell Lingle, Sharron Lingle, Ronald Robert Lingle Lyons, Dixie Lee Forsythe, William Lingle, Donna Cotton Green, Carol See McGraw, Frank Boedecker, Doris Boggs, Helen Lingle, Robert Lingle, Jimmie Nolan and Judy Bucholz Cordes.