Bette Choate

Bette Choate, 76, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away surrounded by her family on the evening of Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa.

Services for Bette will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Marshalltown Church of the Nazarene. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to services. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Bette Marlene Smith was born October 19, 1946 to Chalmer and Voda (Metz) Smith in Marshalltown. She was the second oldest of six children in her family. She attended Marshalltown High School where she graduated in the Class of 1964. She went on to attend nursing school in Marshalltown and was one of the last classes at the Marshalltown School of Nurses.

On August 20, 1966 she was united in marriage to Garry Choate at the Albion Methodist Church. She began her career in nursing for a few years after marriage while they lived and made their home in Marshalltown. They moved to Albion, Iowa in 1969 and they began having children. Together they had four children. Once they were born, she stayed at home to care for her family and became a “domestic goddess” as she would put it. Over a number of years, she was active in Birthright and served as their head. She was very active within the First Church of the Nazarene (Marshalltown Church of the Nazarene). In her free time, Bette loved to spend time with her family and friends, share old memories alongside family, go for golf cart rides and reminisce about places she’s been, used to live, etc. She always kept a book to read and her family photo albums close.

She is survived by her husband Garry; her children, Andy (Stephanie) Choate, Angie (Tom) Halverson, Tia Keah, and Justin Choate; her grandchildren, Ashlin Choate, Carson Choate, Gabriel Choate, Elijah Choate, Aaron Case, MaryJane Davis, Earl Davis IV, Nyatiek Keah, Nyabol Keah, Nyala Johnson, Wayne Boyd, and Trevon Keah Warr; her siblings, Lorrene Hurlbut and Gayle (Larry) Frickie.

She is preceded in death by Chalmer and Voda Smith and her siblings, Dennis Smith, Gary Smith, and Cheryl Harris.