Ida Elizabeth Osterhus

Ida (known as Betty to her family and friends) died Friday, August 17, 2018 at Care Manor in Mountain Home, Arkansas. On August 1, she fell breaking her hip, pelvis and left shoulder, which resulted in a partial hip replacement surgery at Baxter Regional Medical Center. She had fallen earlier in March breaking 3 ribs and a vertebrae in her spine, but healed quickly and enjoyed several months at home before her fall in August. She would have celebrated her 92nd birthday in November.

Betty was born on November 29, 1926 in rural Castalia, IA to Knute and Clara Solheim. She was united in marriage to Richard Ernest Osterhus on March 29, 1944 at Bethany Lutheran Church in rural Ossian, IA. Four children, LaVerne, Ronald, Richard Jr. and Lynette were born to this union.

Betty grew up on her parent’s farm. She loved the animals and enjoyed all the chores that went along with farming life. She often talked about her horse that she would treat with a sugar lump every day. Once married, Richard and Betty moved to Clermont, IA where Richard had a Kaiser-Fraser Dealership for several years.

Betty enjoyed cooking and over the course of her life owned and/or operated several restaurants; the well-known Betty’s Café in Clermont and the Coffee Cup Café in Elgin where she worked side by side with her son, LaVerne. Years later, she opened another Betty’s Café in Clermont with her son, Richard Jr.

During this same time period, Betty took flying lessons and completed her flight instruction by “soloing” which required her to fly alone from Clermont to Charles City, IA and back again. In her down-time, she enjoyed embroidery, crocheting, and quilting.

She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church for many years when living in Iowa, and upon moving to Mountain Home she attended several churches, with the most recent being New Life Church. She loved to “flip houses” and purchased, lived in and sold 15 different homes that she and her sons renovated together. The last home had a large yard and garden that she loved to work in every day. The neighbors marveled at how she could pick weeds and groom the yard for hours on end. She also enjoyed her flowers, especially an 80 ft. row of 5 ft. tall Zinnias that grew at the back of the property line each year. She loved eating out at Chen’s Garden Chinese Restaurant, and going to see her Grandchildren that lived nearby on a regular basis.

Survivors include her brother Gordon (Jeanive) Solheim of Platte, SD; two sons LaVerne (Susan) Osterhus, Richard Osterhus Jr., both of Mountain Home, and a daughter Lynette (Douglas) Gilbertson of Dike, IA; 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Sr.; 2 brothers, Ralph and George Solheim, Castalia, IA; one son, Ronald Lee Osterhus, Mountain Home, AR; and one great grandchild, Clint Russell Osterhus.

Betty will be honored at a family “Celebration of Life” potluck luncheon on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at noon in the Clermont Park.

Condolences may be sent to 1704 Arbor, Mountain Home, AR 72653.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas.