Betty Lou Nieveen of Lincoln, passed away at her Lincoln home with her daughters and grandson present on January 22, 2016.  She was born in Wahoo on January 20, 1927 to Hilda (Pabian) and Edward Dolezal. She spoke fondly of growing up on the family farm with brother Billy and attending a one room schoolhouse a mile away. She attended Catholic School in Wahoo, Luther College, and graduated from UNL where she met Arnold. They married July 31, 1950 and moved from Fremont to York, and finally settled in Beatrice. Betty taught in North Platte, at Randolph Elementary in Lincoln and Paddock Lane in Beatrice.  Betty loved big band music. She was a prolific song writer who, with the encouragement of cousin, Jerrine Racek, and dear friend, Jim Koudelka, achieved her dream of creating a big band CD of several songs. The CD release party held in 2011 was attended by over 300 attendees and was featured on NET Nebraska Stories. Work on her second CD started in 2015.  Before her move to Lincoln in 2012, Betty played bridge, travelled the world, volunteered at the Beatrice Community Hospital and was an active member of the Beatrice First Presbyterian Church. She was a member of NSAI and won an honorable mention for one of her songs. She will be remembered by many as a favorite teacher and great friend.  She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, William. Survivors include son Bruce (Liisa) of Riverton, Utah, daughters Barbara Nieveen (Keith Larsen) and Patte Newman (Darrell Klein) of Lincoln and grandchildren Marc Newman (Niki Oberheu) of Lincoln, Jed (Chersti), Jacob (Nora) and Katrina (Aaron Christensen) all of Utah.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 27, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church in Beatrice with Reverend Dr. Jimmy Shelbourn officiating. Burial at a later date at Wyuka Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Beatrice Sertoma Club Scholarship Fund with the funeral home in charge.