Betty Mae Tigges

Betty Mae (Sorensen) Tigges, 88, passed away on January 22nd, 2022 in Ames, Iowa.

Betty was born on July 7th, 1933 to Hans and Elta (Frederiksen) Sorensen in Davenport, Iowa, and spent her first seven years as an only child. During that time, she enjoyed the companionship of her beloved chow dog who had red hair just like her. Betty often talked about spending time at her relatives' farm and summers visiting the lake near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She enjoyed school and kept in touch with many of her classmates through reunions and by sending/receiving annual Christmas cards.

Betty was unable to attend college as her mother had become ill and she was needed to help raise her sister, so she began working at the telephone company as a switchboard operator. At the age of 23, a couple of years after her mother passed, Betty traveled to Denmark to meet her parents' relatives. She was welcomed there by family with flowers and photos snapped for a story in the local paper. Betty’s family enjoyed listening to her talk about the trip and all of the family members she met.

One day when she was 25, still working at the telephone company, a dapper, young, James Tigges, noticed a nice pair of legs as he was working on a switchboard station. Jim was quickly introduced to Betty and promptly asked her out to a baseball game. They were married May 3rd, 1959, enjoyed a honeymoon in Yellowstone National Park and made their forever home in Ames, Iowa. Betty and Jim had four children and though she transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom, she remained active in the Ames community. Betty was a brownie troop leader, member of Bethesda Lutheran Circle and the Iowa Telephone Pioneers, she opened her home as a blue star home, and volunteered in her children’s classrooms and at the hospital auxiliary.

Betty had a voracious appetite for reading, was well known at the Ames public library, and had stacks of books within reach at all times. Celebrating birthdays, holidays and special occasions were important to Betty. She was fondly known for her Christmas cookie plates that were enjoyed by all her neighbors, preparation and baking for which would start in October! Betty loved to travel and was fortunate enough to go to Hawaii twice and enjoy many wonderful family road trips out west.

Betty loved her sons and daughter-in-law and cherished her grandchildren. We are thankful the entire family was able to be together recently to celebrate Christmas in December 2021. Jim, all their children, and 3 of their grandchildren were able to be at Betty's side at the end. Betty said, “I have had a very happy and full life because of my family. I love all of you very much”.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Ora Mae (Sorensen) Riblet, brother-in-law Charles (Chuck) Riblet.

Betty is survived by her husband, James Louis Tigges; children, Kelly (Jeff) Whitmer of Bloomington, Indiana, Wendy (Jed) Young of Bradenton, Florida, Connie (Jim) Peters of Ames, Iowa, Curt (Claudia) Tigges of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren, Jeremy and Marissa Whitmer, Megan (Harrison) Black and Mallory (Kyle) Young, and Julian and Hanna Peters.

Memorial contributions for Betty Tigges may be directed to the Ames public library.