Betty Krause

Betty Krause was born in a farmhouse near Ohiowa, NE to Herman and Lydia Matthies on June 2^nd, 1927. Later they moved to a larger farm about 7 miles SE of Ohiowa. They did not have running water {only a windmill) or electricity in the home. Betty had one sister, Connie, who was born in 1937.

When Betty was old enough, she went to a one-room schoolhouse in Fillmore County Dist. #10. She went there grades 1-8 and lived 2-1/2 miles from school. Betty rode her pony, Judy, or walked. She had perfect attendance all eight years. She went to Ohiowa High School and graduated valedictorian in 1944 in a class of thirteen. She received a 2-year scholarship to NE Wesleyan College in Lincoln where she pledged to Phi Mu Sorority. Betty then entered Bryan Memorial Nursing School (graduating May 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing) and continued working at the hospital following graduation. Her parents gave her a new 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air to celebrate her accomplishments.

Betty married Arnold Krause {a University of Nebraska student working at Bryan) on Dec. 20, 1950. They moved to Omaha where Arnold went to medical school. She worked at the new VA Hospital to help put Arnold through school and received a PHMS Degree {Put Husband Through Medical School) when they graduated in 1954. A son, Gordon, was born during the third year of medical school.

In 1955, the family moved to Lincoln where Arnold served his internship at Bryan Hospital and Betty worked at the VA Hospital. Arnold then enlisted in the Air Force in 1956 for two years. Instead of going to Cheyenne, he was sent to a recruiting station in Fargo, ND.

The family moved to Casper in 1958. Doug and Kathryn were both born in Casper. As Arnold was settling in family practice, Betty substituted in his office and joined the medical auxiliary. Arnold was an officer in National Family Practice, so Betty went with him to many meetings in the U.S., Amelia Islands, off the Florida coast, Hawaii {where his brother/wife lived), Montreal, and the Bahamas.

When Betty's children were in school, she substituted as school nurse and also became involved in Service League, 4-H, and League of Women Voters. She was on the board of the American Cancer Society doing community and school health fairs.

In 1974, Betty became a school nurse at East Jr. High and later moved to the newly built Centennial Jr. High {she also had Pineview School). She retired in 1992 and maintained her nursing license until age 80. Following retirement, Betty helped with the Casper Adult Day Care Center, Easter Seals Adult Care, and again substituted as school nurse.

In 1979, the family built a cabin {facing north) on their Casper Mountain property. They all enjoyed snowmobiles, snow shoeing, and skiing with a fantastic view of Casper and surrounding areas. Betty especially enjoyed the birds, butterflies, watching the clouds, and hiking in the summer.