Betty Jean Coffey, 98, of Crete, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and entered into the kingdom of her Lord on April 25, 2025, the date of her 98th birthday.
Betty was born in Kramer on April 25, 1927, the second child of Ignac G. Prucha and Elsie (Henning) Prucha. She graduated from Crete High School in 1945. Betty met her husband-to-be, William D. “Bill” Coffey walking to a WWII scrap metal dance when he offered to carry her scrap metal to the dance. Bill and Betty were married Oct. 25, 1945, in Lincoln,. To their marriage, four children were born, Gay, Gary, Joy and Timothy.
After settling in Crete, Betty dedicated herself to her home and family and helped Bill with his new and growing plumbing business. She also worked for JC Penney for several years in Crete and later worked for Norris Public Power District in both the Crete and south Lincoln offices, where she served as office administrator. She retired from Norris in 1989 after 18 years of service. Betty was a lifelong member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Crete.
The matriarch of the Coffey family, Betty was a warm, fun-loving person who never met a stranger. She loved parties, dances and social events of all sorts, and on occasion, even attended her children’s high school reunions for them. She maintained a wide circle of friends near and far and kept up with her friends to the end. She also loved to travel and traveled extensively, touring and cruising in the United States and overseas.
She was also a versatile cook, talented seamstress and dedicated gardener. Among the memorable dishes she prepared were her breakfast toast (loved by multi-generations), special holiday slush, angel food cake, her coleslaw and Bill’s “refreshing” jello salad. She made her children’s school clothing that she often designed herself based on magazine ads and later made Halloween and holiday costumes for her grandchildren. Each summer, she cultivated a large garden and put up a bounty of canned foods for the following winter. Her pickles were especially noteworthy.
Betty’s greatest joy was her family, who benefitted immeasurably from her unfailing love and affection. For her grandchildren, she was the ideal grandmother, making every holiday festive, every birthday special and every family event memorable. To be her grandchild was a genuine blessing.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Coffey; her parents, Ignac and Elsie Prucha; her brother, Maynard “Buck” Prucha; brother, Robert “Bob” Prucha; sister, Sandi Rownd; her son, Gary L. Coffey; granddaughter, Melanie Whitman Buck; and son-in-law, Terry Petracek.
She is survived by daughters, Gay L Whitman (David) and Joy R. Petracek (Terry); son, Timothy W. Coffey (Lisa); 11 grandchildren; many, many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as dear friends, Roy Jensen and Dorothy Henning.
A private family graveside service is planned. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Crete Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.
Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.
