Betty Lou Mahnesmith
March 26, 1936 ~ October 9, 2022
Betty ( Piester) Mahnesmith, 86, was born March 26, 1936 in Kewanee, Illinois to Edith ( Bull) and Earl "Shorty" Piester. She was the 5th of seven daughters. Betty graduated Kewanee High School in 1954. She graduated from Kewanee St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1957. She married John Mahnesmith of Buda, Illinois on November 30, 1957.
Betty is preceded in death by her husband John, her parents, grandparents and 5 sisters: Dorothy Smiley, Doris Loring, Shirley Osborn, Beverly Rewerts, and Virginia (Gee-Gee) Grabbe.
Betty is survived by her sister Kathy Lay of Yuma, Arizona; 6 children: Connie (Tony) Nyert of Kewanee, Michael (Marchele) Mahnesmith of Kewanee, Paul (Jacki) Mahnesmith of Las Vegas, Nevada, Becky (Paul) Henkins of Kewanee, Thomas Mahnesmith of Kewanee, and Jim (Valery) Mahnesmith of Kentucky. She was a guardian to Bill, Brian, Lynn, Lorraine, LaVonne, and Jerry Rewerts; nineteen grandchildren: Heather Nyert, Andrea (Rob) Hofer, Becca (Rob Jedlicka) Mahnesmith, Morgan (Dan) Arnold, Prestina Mahnesmith, Scott Herbert, Jonathan (Taryn Strong) Henkins, Jeremy (Sara Engelman) Henkins, Jason (Carly) Henkins, Joshua (Elise Roa) Henkins, Craig Mahnesmith, Colin Mahnesmith, Madison Mahnesmith, Kennedy Mahnesmith, Rylee Mahnesmith, Ethan Park, Dontae Jeffries, Naviana Jeffries, and Taylor Sanocki; in-laws Roy (Nancy) Mahnesmith, Betty Horton, Fred Mahnesmith, Garnafay Workheiser and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Betty enjoyed gardening, flowers, reading, NASCAR, and was an avid Cubs fan. She enjoyed spending time with her sister in Yuma, Az. She was a retired registered nurse and kept up with the field of medicine throughout her life. Betty enjoys spending time with her children and especially her grandchildren. Her first great grandchild is due in March 2023.
Funeral Mass will be on Friday October 14, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. John Paul II Parish in Kewanee, Illinois with Father Christopher Magesa. Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army, American Heart Association or Cancer Association.
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So sorry for your loss. Love and prayers sent your way. Your mom always had that beautiful smile.
Love Regina
So very sorry for the loss of your Mother . Thoughts and prayers for all of your family.
Aunt Betty you were the best “Grandma” we never had. Your heart of gold will be missed by us all and although I know you would not want us sad, it hurts to know I will never hear your famous “I love you more” Rest peacefully my beautiful angel. We love you
My prayers go out to the family of Betty at this very sad time. I was a friend and classmate of hers and she will be very missed by our whole class. She was loved and respected by all of us. R.I.P., dear friend.
I am sorry for your loss. What an amazing person God has called home.
I’m sorry to hear this news. Betty certainly raised a wonderful family! My sincere condolences to all of you, may she rest in peace. Thinking of you Connie.
Dear all of Betty‘s children and grandchildren, Betty was a beautiful lady inside and out. Know that we are thinking of you all and praying for you
To all of Betty‘s children and grandchildren. Betty was my childhood friend throughout my whole life. We spent our teenage years at the rollerskating rink. I will miss my dear friend.
Connie, Tony and family,
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am truly sorry for your loss. All the great things your dear mother did for so many in her nursing career and how much she loved her grandchildren….. I know you’re heartbroken. May your memories and family help heal the sadness.
A wonderful acquaintance made possible due to my late husband Jim O’Connor. Had many fun times together Kewanee, IL to Yuma Az and some spots between. Great memory.Miss Betty will be missed.
Thank you for sharing Betty’s Tribute, Betty was my Friend, my American Sister. Betty was the kindest, caring, strongest, I could go on and on but what I want to say is she is one of the nicest people that I have had the honour to know. We will meet again on the other side .
Go in peace Betty till we meet again. I will miss you
My sympathy to Mike and his entire family. Losing someone you love is always so hard. I pray that you are comforted knowing that she is ecstatic to be resting in the arms of Our God.
My heartfelt love to my siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and especially my husband and children. “She loved us mostest”
Betty was such a beautiful soul. May she R.I.P. My sympathies to the Mahnesmith family. The rememberance was wonderful.