Obituaries : Bette Lynn Kratoska

Bette Lynn Kratoska, 61, of Chelsea, IA passed suddenly away July 3, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City. IA

Bette was born Aug. 10, 1959 in Waterloo, IA to Donald and Mary (Park) Van Scoyoc. She graduated from Belle Plaine High School and attended the University of Iowa for a few years before starting at Benco Manufacturing. Following Benco., she went back to school finishing her degree in 2005. She was a substitute teacher and associate for Belle Plaine School's where she touched many students lives and made sure they knew they mattered and were important. On August 20th 1981, Bette married the love of her life, Ronald Kratoska at St. Joseph's Church in Chelsea. Together they lived on the Kratoska family farm where they raised their two children.

She loved reading, gardening, flowers, crocheting, archaeology, sudoku puzzles and making stained glass windows. She loved and always had cats, including one she bottle fed and raised herself.

Bette enjoyed hosting children in the youth foreign exchange program. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Belle Plaine Music Boosters.

She is survived by her husband, Ron of Chelsea; son, Jon of Newton; daughter, Catherine of Chelsea; brothers, Jim (Susan) Van Scoyoc and Albert Van Scoyoc both of Victor; host daughter, Mariam Mezrishvili of Gori in the Country of Georgia, and many more loving nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Bette is preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Virgina Papesh.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Chelsea with Fr. Greg Bahl officiating. Service will also be livestreamed on the funeral service Facebook page. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery, Vining, IA.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 6th at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine. With scripture service at 7 p.m. Memorial may be directed to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhausfuneralservice.com