Betty Huntley

Sterling - Betty Huntley, age 91, of Sterling, died Monday June 21, 2021. Betty was born September 19, 1929, in Des Moines, IA, and was adopted by Samuel P. And Katherine (Deusch) Morris. She married E. Gale Huntley on November 27, 1949. She lived in Sterling, Illinois for her entire life. She graduated from Woodlawn School in 1943 and graduated from Sterling High School, Class of 1947. She planned Sterling High School class reunions every five years for 10 reunions. She worked at Lawrence Brothers office, Frantz Manufacturing, JCPenney Company, and gave dance roller skate skating lessons at Singing Wheels roller rink. In 1955 she was the secretary for the “Red Feather Drive,” which is the present-day United Way. She worked with a professional fundraising team for five years in the off-season and assisted them in building the YMCA of Dixon and the YWCA of Sterling. She was Executive Secretary of the United Way and then became the Executive Director. She was the first person to administer food for FEMA in Sterling/Rock Falls with the help of volunteers. In 1990, she raised enough money to buy the Christian Science building at 502 First Avenue to house the United Way. She retired from the United Way in 1994, with 39 years of service and had reached an annual goal of $650,000 for United Way programs. The United Way board of directors and volunteers surprised Betty with a cruise to Hawaii. After retirement, Betty and Gale enjoyed 8 winters in Mesa, Arizona. She was also a member of the Golden “K” Kiwanis, Ladies of the Moose, Altrusa Club, Holtslander Rebeka lodge, CGH auxiliary (Pink Ladies), and board member of DeKalb 4-C. She was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. In 1980, she received the Sterling Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award and a 1992, she was recognized with a YWCA Professional Award. She loved her family, friends, playing bridge, pinochle, and other games. She was very good at crocheting and knitting for others and loved music of all kinds. In 2009, Heritage Woods in Sterling became her home, where she resided until her death. Survivors include her daughter, Marcia Ashlock of Sterling, son Marty (Jackie) Huntley of Sterling, and daughter Marilyn (Jim) Henry of Sterling; six grandchildren: Nathan (Mina) Griffith, Lindsay Ashlock, Dylan (Carrie) Huntley, Blake (Cyndi) Huntley, Weston (Martha) Henry, Madison (Carl) Monk; and 10 great-grandchildren: Camden Griffith, Brooklyn Griffith, Holden Huntley, Jonas Huntley, Isaac Huntley, Joanna Huntley, Philip Huntley, Morgan Huntley Marruffo-Phillips , Beckett Henry, And Elowynn Henry. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Robert E. Morris, and husband E. Gale Huntley. Visitation will be 10AM-11:15AM Friday July 2, 2021 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sterling. Funeral will start at 11:30 AM following the visitation at church, with Reverend Leo Patterson, officiating. Burial will take place immediately following funeral services at Oak Knoll Memorial Park, Sterling. A memorial has been established to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling Schools Foundation Music Department and Rock River Hospice.