Maxine Bettin, age 88, of Wall Lake, IA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, surrounded by those who loved her.

   Maxine Marie Sigwalt was born on February 1, 1938, in Rockwell City, IA, to Charles and Lillian (Boom) Sigwalt. She spent her early years in Lytton and later Odebolt, IA. She attended grade school in Jolley, Sac City, and Lytton, and graduated from Wall Lake High School with the Class of 1956.

   Following high school, Maxine pursued her calling in nursing at St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in Carroll, IA, earning her Registered Nurse degree in 1959.

   On December 18, 1960, Maxine married the love of her life, Paul Bettin, at the Presbyterian Church in Wall Lake. Together, they were blessed with three children: Michael Paul, Patrick Charles, and Michele Marie. They made their home on a farm near Odebolt, where they owned and operated the Bettin Feedlot and raised their family with love, faith, and strong values. Her family meant the world to her and she cherished every moment spent with them.

   Maxine was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt, where she served faithfully as an elder, deacons of the church, and was an active member of the women’s choir.

   Her nursing career reflected her deep compassion for others. Maxine worked as a Registered Nurse at Carroll Medical Center, Loring Hospital in Sac City, and spent the final 25 years of her career at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, where she touched countless lives. She retired in 2000 after a lifetime of caring for others.

   Service was not just something Maxine did—it was who she was. She was a longtime member of the Wall Lake Lions Club, joining in 1997, and gave generously of her time as a mentor with the Sac County Mentoring Program. She was actively involved in the Hometown Pride Committee, a member of “100 People Who Care,” and served many years as a board member of the Howard Center in Sac City. Maxine also served on the Association for Retarded Citizens board at both the county and state levels for 18 years, where she was a tireless and passionate advocate for others.

   Maxine found great joy in traveling and volunteering. She took many memorable trips with her sisters, including a recent Caribbean cruise. Together, Maxine and Paul explored all 50 states and traveled internationally to Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia.

   Maxine lived by the belief that “we serve God by serving others.” While the world often measures greatness by power, possessions, or position, Maxine understood that true greatness is found in service. Like Jesus, she lived as a servant—quietly, humbly, and wholeheartedly.

   She had a servant’s heart—one that sought out needs and met them without hesitation. No task was too big or too small. Whether it meant delivering a meal, driving someone to an appointment, making a phone call, sending a thoughtful note, or simply sitting beside someone who needed companionship, Maxine was there. She once described volunteering as her hobby—but it was far more than that. It was her calling. She was dependable, trustworthy, and selfless. If Maxine said she would do something, it was done. She never sought recognition, and notoriety meant nothing to her—but her acts of kindness meant everything to those she touched.

   In her final days, as loved ones gathered around her bedside, the impact of her life came full circle. Those who stood by her included hospice caregivers, nurses, friends, and many whose lives she had touched over the years. They brought food, sent cards, offered prayers, and sat in quiet presence—just as she had done for so many others. It was a beautiful reflection of a life lived in service and love. Maxine’s legacy is one of compassion, faith, and unwavering dedication to others. Her life reminds us that the greatest gift we can give is ourselves.

   Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Mike (Deb) Bettin of Odebolt, IA, and Pat (Angie) Bettin of Leon, IA; grandchildren: Tara (Jon) Reaman of Odebolt, IA, Lauren (Clayton) Riedell of Cherokee, IA, Tyler (Nicole) Bettin of Odebolt, IA, Preston (Sara) Bettin of Marengo, IL, Scott (Jessica) Bettin of Cherokee, IA, and Haley Bettin of Leon, IA; great-grandchildren: Christian, Caroline, and Kennedy Reaman, Eli, Scarlett, and Finn Riedell, Erin, Caden, and Calvin Bettin, Emmett and Adalyn Bettin; brother Richard (Valerie) Sigwalt of Washington, D.C.; sisters Roberta Adamson of New London, NH, and Mavis (S.R.) Hiremath of Las Vegas, NV; sisters-in-law Virginia Sigwalt of Carroll, IA, Evelyn Bettin of Leon, IA, and Joyce Bettin of Lake View, IA; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.

   Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Bettin (2023); daughter Michele Bettin; great-granddaughter Camille Bettin; parents Charles and Lillian Sigwalt; brothers Warren and Raymond Sigwalt; parents-in-law Fred and Christina Bettin; brothers-in-law: Ronald Adamson, Leland Bettin, Kenneth (Gloria) Bettin, Vern (Ardine) Bettin, Ronald Bettin, Richard Bettin, and Roy (Jimmie Nell) Bettin; sisters-in-law Dorothy (Marvin) Stehr and Donna (Doyle) Chastain; nephews Frank Bettin, Bob Stehr, Doug Stehr, and Kenneth Bettin; nieces Stephanie Bettin and Diane Luft.