Betty A. Yocom

Betty Ann Yocom, of Cozad, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Meadowlark Pointe, surrounded by her loving family. She was 87 years old.

Betty Ann Kleen was born on November 15, 1938, on the family farm north of Bruning, Nebraska, to Herman Thomas Kleen and Mary Katherine Norder. She was the second of three children. Betty was baptized into the Lutheran faith on February 5, 1939, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bruning, where she was later confirmed on April 6, 1952.

Betty graduated from Bruning High School in 1956, and soon after, she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where she worked at an insurance office and at Love Library on the University of Nebraska campus. In her era, college was not as encouraged for women as it is today. It was there that she met David Osborne Yocom, and they were married on September 7, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bruning. Together, they supported each other through the years, with Betty working to support Dave while he earned his civil engineering degree. After his graduation, the couple moved to Overland Park, Kansas, where Betty worked as a key punch operator. The family then relocated to Boulder, Colorado, before settling in Cozad in 1964, where they raised their four children: Cindy, Mark, Tim, and Matt.

Betty was a longtime member of American Lutheran Church where she attended Circle and served on the church council including a term as president. She belonged to Chapter CO of the P.E.O. Sisterhood where she held several offices. Betty was on the board of the Robert Henri Museum and enjoyed decorating for “Holidays at the Henri” including making sure that the wreaths on the windows were perfectly hung! She was also a member of “Betty’s Club” where she enjoyed socializing with other Betty’s in the area. Some of her favorite hobbies were flower and vegetable gardening and flower arranging. She was a master at turning a bunch of flowers into a beautiful bouquet. Betty attained the title of Master Gardner from the University of Nebraska Extension program. Other favorite pastimes included playing in bridge clubs, Bridge Marathon, playing pitch, tennis and golf, hiking in the mountains and spending time in Estes Park, Colorado. Betty enjoyed traveling with friends and family including multiple trips a year to her timeshare in Estes Park, family canoe and ski trips, a trip to Australia, the Cayman Islands, and Arizona. She and her husband Dave hiked the Grand Canyon and several trails in Colorado.

Betty was an avid sports fan, she especially enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren and attending Husker football games. She could be found watching any college football, volleyball, basketball, softball or baseball games that were televised.

Betty was privileged to have all her children and later grandchildren living in Cozad. She so enjoyed attending all their activities, and being there for birthdays, graduations and other milestones.

Betty was fiercely independent and will be remembered for her strong sense of family and faith that sustained her through many trials. She felt that her legacy, along with God and her husband, was raising four children to be good citizens.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, son Mark, husband David, sister Myrna Hawks, brother Richard Kleen, son-in-law Tim Thramer, in-laws Kenneth and Helen Yocom, brothers-in-law Howard Hawks and John Reed, sister-in-law Sharon Kleen and nephew Tim Hawks.

Betty is survived by her children, Cindy Thramer, Tim (Laurie) Yocom, Matt (Jacque) Yocom all of Cozad, grandchildren Molly (Hawken) Albus, Hannah (Josh) Masur, Abby Thramer and fiancé Nate Neil, Sarah Yocom, Ben Yocom, Jorja Yocom, Jax Yocom, great grandchildren Jayden and Weston Albus and baby Masur, in-laws Becky Reed, Jon (Ricki) Yocom, and Kay (Dave) Haesler, nieces and nephews Neal (Jamie) Hawks, Troy (Heather) Hawks, Kristi Kleen, Michelle (Greg) Williams, and Darcy Koletic and other extended family and many friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Central Plains Home Health and Hospice, Robert Henri Museum or American Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church with Pastor Kathy Gundell officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Friday, November 28, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home.