Betty Joy Harrison

Betty Harrison, 76, the devoted longtime director of the Marshalltown Community College Library, died Friday, June 6. Services to celebrate her life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 14th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with her family present for visitation. An 11:00 a.m. memorial will follow. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in a private family committal at a later date. Born Betty Joy Harrison on June 26th, 1937, in Melbourne, she was the daughter of Herbert Calvin and R. Elizabeth (Owen) Harrison. She graduated from Marshalltown High School Class of 1955 and Marshalltown Junior College in 1957. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Iowa State Teachers College, now UNI, in 1959. Betty completed her Masters Degree in Library Science at the University of Denver in 1964. Betty followed the passion of her career and returned to Marshalltown to work at the Marshalltown High School and then a long, meaningful career of guiding students at the Marshalltown Junior College/Marshalltown Community College. She retired as Head Librarian for the college and was honored for her years of dedicated work when the new library at MCC was named in her honor (the B.J. Harrison Library). Betty was a member of the Soroptimists, Business and Professional Womens Foundation (BPW), NEA, ISEA, and former faculty members of MCC. She enjoyed reading, playing cribbage, travelling, bingo and the joy of sponsoring a ladies bowling team known as Bettys Bunch for over 20 years. Left to cherish her memory are siblings: Donna (Robert) Tichy of Garwin, Linda Norris of Des Moines, Jim (Joan) Harrison of Marshalltown, half-sisters: Ria (Tom) Marien of Grafton, WI; Kimi (Gerard) Morita of Stockton, CA; Nikki Stetler of Stockton, CA; Lori (Randy) Holman of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law Fran (Ken) Smith of Marshalltown and many nieces, nephews, cousins, former co-workers and friends. In death, she rejoined her father, brother Willis Hutch Harrison, mother and many aunts and uncles. Memorials may be directed to the MCC B.J. Harrison Library. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.