Elizabeth (Betty) Mae Stiles, 88, of Waterloo, Iowa, passed peacefully while surrounded by family on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, at Sacred Heart Care Center, Austin, Minnesota.

She came into the world on March 8, 1927, on the family farm in Eagle Center, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Sylvia (Weber) Steimel. She grew up in Eagle Center, attending and graduating valedictorian from St. Mary’s of Mount Carmel in 1944. During WWII she trained as a nurse’s aide at the old St. Francis Hospital and also contributed to the war effort as an employee of Power’s Manufacturing. She married Howard Stiles of Oelwein, Iowa, on June 17, 1947. The couple moved to Oelwein to start their family, and Betty worked in the family farm stand which evolved into the Stiles Market, serving Oelwein until the late 1960’s. Betty returned to Waterloo in the early 1970’s and worked at John Deere until 1985. She then returned to her first love of health care, providing home care to the elderly until she was 75.

Survivors include her daughter Linda of Austin, Minnesota; son Michael of Costa Rica; daughter Rebecca and Ken Phillips of Boston, Massachusetts; son Jim and Merlene of Austin, Minnesota; and daughter Kara of Ashland, Oregon; three grandchildren: Andrea, Gabrielle, and Jay; three step-grandchildren in New England; five great-grandchildren; twin sister, Donna Delagardelle of Jesup; brother Earl Steimel of Eagle Center.

She was preceded in death by her brothers: Robert, James, and Dennis.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015, at St. Mary’s of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, both in Eagle Center. Public visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Home on West Ridgeway, where there will be a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 7 p.m. vigil. Visitation will continue for one hour before services at the church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Sacred Heart Care Center, 1200 12th Street SW, Austin, MN 55912 for memorial donations. Online condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with local arrangements.