Bette Jo Voss

Bette Jo (Perreten) Voss passed away Tuesday December 13, 2016.

Bette was born March 14, 1923 to William and Lulu (Spitler) Perreten on the family farm south east of Rushville, NE, joining 4 sisters Hazel, Helen, Ruth and Margaret. Later followed by another sister LaVerna, one brother William Jr. (Bill) and youngest sister, Norma Jean.

She attended country school Sheridan Co. Dist. 14, grades 1 through 8. Most days she and her sisters walked the 2 miles to school from their home. Her high school days were in Rushville, NE. On good days, she walked the 5 miles from town home or caught rides when she could. When the weather was bad, she stayed in town with her sister Helen Moss and family.

When she was old enough, she helped her dad in the fields, mostly riding the binder and shocking grain and milking the family cows.

She met her husband, Arthur Chester Voss from nearby Hay Springs, NE. They were married in Chadron, NE. on March 26, 1942 by Pastor Wolf of the Lutheran Church. The two would sing in harmony, many duets entertaining at several occasions in both Wyoming and Nebraska. They were blessed with 4 sons: Richard, William, Larry and Michael; had 8 wonderful grand children and in turn, 20 great grandchildren, and a very dear friend (and adopted into Bette and Art’s family) Donna Rusk and her family.

Preceding her in death were her parents William & Lulu Perreten, husband Arthur, one son Larry, her brother William Jr., and sisters Helen Moss, Ruth Musfelt, LaVerna Huckins Cleveland, Norma Jean Johnson and Hazel Musfelt.

Bette’s wishes were to be cremated and buried beside her husband in the Fairfield Cemetery at Rushville, NE. She loved the song and poem “Miss Me-But Let Me Go”.

MISS ME- BUT LET ME GO

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little ... but not too long,

And not with your heads bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared,

Miss me - but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take,

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me----but let me go!

And each must go alone.

It’s all part of the Master’s plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart,

Go to the friends we know,

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me----but let me go.

Author unknown.