Betty J. Miller

Betty J. Miller

Betty J. Miller, 96, of Geneseo, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018, at Country Manor Memory Care in Davenport, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 2, 2018, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Geneseo. Reverend Ryan Landino will officiate. Burial will follow at North Cemetery in Geneseo, IL. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church, Geneseo Humane Society, Vera French, or Unity Point Hospice.

Betty was born on April 12, 1921, the daughter of Vernon and Elsie (Ole) Hamilton, in rural Geneseo, Munson Township. She graduated from Geneseo High School. Betty was united in marriage to Francis Miller in Geneseo. Francis preceded her in death in 1972. Betty, along with her husband Francis, farmed in rural Geneseo for many years. After Francis passed away, Betty continued to manage their farm on her own. Betty then married Walter Zelnio in Geneseo in 1982. Walter preceded her in death in 2014. Betty was on the board of bank directors for the former State Savings & Loan in Geneseo, of which her husband Francis was one of the original founders. She was a very talented artist and enjoyed all forms of art. She loved to dance, golf, and was a past model for Ada Gaffney Shaff in Davenport, IA.

Those left to cherish her memory include her step children, Marie (Dale) Ziegler, Ann (Joe DeSousa) Zelnio, Susan Zelnio, and Charles (Annette) Zelnio, step-grandchildren, Ana (Trevor) Loes, Catherine Ziegler, Alex Press, Connor Hemmingson, Ian Hemmingson, Chris Zelnio, Michelle Zelnio, Cella DeSousa, and Siena DeSousa, and step-great-granchildren, Erza Loes, Hadley Loes, and Wyatt Loes. She is also survived by her niece and nephew, Bette Moffitt and John Dilenbeck, great nieces and nephews, Katy (Ross) Meyer, Miranda Lipes, Josie (Steve) Kernes, and Christopher Dilenbeck, and her great-great nephews and nieces, Aaron Meyer, Wayne Kernes, and Kendra Kernes.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Elsie, two husbands, Francis and Walter, and her sister Ann Dilenbeck.