Betty R Kumba

Rock Rapids, IA        Betty Kumba, age 98 of Rock Rapids, IA died Friday April 7, 2017 at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids, IA.        Funeral service will be 2:00PM, Monday, April 10th at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Kathy Sides officiating.        Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.        Visitation will be Sunday, April 9th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with family present at Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids.        Betty Ruth Kumba was born on May 25, 1918 in Rock Rapids, IA, the daughter of Walter and Bertha (Davisson) Stewart.  She grew up in Rock Rapids and graduated from Wilson High School.  Betty then went on to business school in Sioux City, IA.  She then began a job near Webster City, IA as a bookkeeper for a time.  Betty then moved back to her home town of Rock Rapids and served as the first female Lyon County Deputy Sheriff for a couple of years.  She then worked as a bookkeeper in Sibley, IA for a while and then as an assistant to an Iowa State Representative.  Also during that time Betty was very proud to receive her solo pilots license.      On September 10, 1950, Betty was united in marriage to Jake Kumba at her mother’s home in Rock Rapids.  Following their marriage, they rented a farm near Superior, IA.  To this union, a son Joe was born.  Then around 1960 Betty and Jake had an opportunity to buy a farm near Rock Rapids, where they were very successful and built a new house there.  The couple always had a dream of owning an Antique Store and in 1978 made that come true when they purchased the old train depot in Lester, IA, but before they got it all fixed up Jake passed away.  Betty ran the store from 1 to 5 PM, six days a week, spring to fall, until 1998.      Betty was a member of the United Methodist Church where she was very active in the lady’s circle and attending to Bible study.  She loved to go to dinner date and liked recruiting new member.  In her 70’s and 80’s Betty enjoyed traveling abroad and bus tours across the country.  She also carpooled with ladies from Rock Rapids to Sioux Center where she participated in water aerobics.      This past Friday, April 7, 2017, Betty passed away at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids at the age of 98.      Betty is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sandy Kumba of Rock Rapids, IA; two grandchildren:  Kendall and Jacob Kumba of Rock Rapids, IA; sister, June Waagmeester of Rock Rapids, IA; sister-in-law, Audry Stewart of Rock Rapids, IA; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.       She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jake; son, Joe Kumba; five brothers:  Robert, Charles, David, Kenneth and Gene; and two sisters:  Viva Warren and Eloise Wagner.