Betty Fern Clark was born July 31, 1924 at Cody. She was the eighth of 10 children born to Charles and Gertrude (Savage) Clark.
Betty was baptized at Hunts Chapel Methodist Church in Cody. She joined this church in her early teens. Betty attended Cody Pubic School and graduated in May 1943. She taught Sunday School, was a member of the United Methodist Women, and an active member of the Town and Country Community Club.
Since her dad worked for the railroad as a night watchman, he had free passes for his family to travel. They took advantage of this by visiting an uncle in Rushville and her dad’s side of the family in Indiana.
Betty met Harvey Shields at an American Legion WWII scrap drive in Cody. They were married May 7, 1944. Harvey and Betty worked on several ranches around the county, moving into Cody in 1968.
Betty was the assistant cook at the school and retired after 20 years of preparing school meals. She was known for her chocolate marshmallow bars. These drew young and old for a Halloween treat.
Harvey and Betty did not have children of their own but had plenty of nieces and nephews to spoil. Harvey passed away August 8, 2003. Betty continued to take an interest in not only her many nieces and nephews but other children as well. It is known only to Betty as to how many good deeds she did, including giving many people starts to her plants, food, sharing her garden produce, etc.
As the years wore on, her health began to fail. She fractured her hip and entered the Country Side Care in Gordon. Even with her body failing, her mind remained very sharp. Betty always wanted to know the Cody news as well as keeping up on her family and friends.
Betty, at the age of 99, went peacefully to her heavenly home to join her husband Harvey and all of her siblings. Marguerite (Max) Wobig, Hazel (Bud) Morton, Ruby (Arnold) Wobig, Opal (Jack) Bennett, Juel (Sam) Whitsett, Charles R. (Joan) Clark, Lucille (John) Faubion, Lois (Minter) Orcutt, and Mitchel (Rowena) Clark.
Betty was truly a woman with a “Golden Heart” and will be missed by all who knew her.
The funeral service for Betty Shields, age 99 of Cody, was held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. MST at Hunts Chapel in Cody. The burial followed at the Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Cody. Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church in Cody. Mrs. Shields passed away on September 16, in Gordon.
Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with service arrangements.
