Elizabeth (Betty) von Fischer Hier
Elizabeth (Betty) von Fischer Hier, 95, of Clear Lake, IA, passed away peacefully at the IOOF Home in Mason City, IA after a courageous three-month battle with bone cancer.
The family would like to invite friends and relatives to a celebration open house of Betty’s life from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on May 15, 2026 at the Lakeview Community Center, 10 Lakeview Drive in Clear Lake. A gravesite inurnment service will take place at the Clear Lake Cemetery at a later date.
Betty was born on January 28, 1931, in Springfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Philip Emil and Vera Santine Wilhelmina (Buth) von Fischer. She attended school in Springfield and began playing the flute in the 6th grade with three other classmates. In 7th grade, and each year following, they were the top small group at regional, and state contests. She graduated from Springfield High School and then attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She played flute in the Wartburg wind ensemble her first three years. She sang in the Wartburg choir all four years and was the high soprano soloist her senior year. She enjoyed traveling and touring with the choir across the nation. She was the Fall Sports Queen her sophomore year, and Homecoming Queen her senior year. While in the Wartburg choir, she said the guy standing behind her would always pull her hair. This guy, Dale Becker, would soon become her husband on August 16, 1953 and to this union their three children were born. At her 50th high school class reunion she rekindled a lifelong friendship with Darrell Hier and they were joined in marriage on March 18, 2000.
Betty’s work life included many things she enjoyed: sewing gowns with Castle Cap & Gown, caring for the elderly at Ritter’s Old Folks Home (renamed Oakwood Care Center), working as a receptionist at Days Inn and Holiday Motor Lodge, and hosting at Pheasant Run, to name just a few. She was involved in the beginning of the Village Store and served as its first director. She concluded her working life by providing compassionate care and support to individuals with disabilities at Handicap Village (renamed Opportunity Village and then One Vision).
She enjoyed sunsets out her front window, watching the birds and feeding the little critters that visited her back deck. She especially adored spending time with her kids, her grandchildren, and great grandchildren, proudly attending school sports and concerts, dance recitals, car races & horse shows. Betty was very involved in many church activities: making quilts, Bible study Circles, directing the Cherubs children’s choir, singing in the senior choir, and teaching Sunday school. As a Girl Scout leader, she successfully led her troop to receive the top award, the Girl Scout First Class award, later renamed the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Loving and living for her dear Savior Jesus was her greatest joy. She was a committed Christian and prayer warrior for every one of her deeply loved family & friends as well as the Compassion children she sponsored: Angel, Michael, and Samuel. It was her greatest wish that her loved ones would be close to God and that she would eventually be reunited with them in Heaven.
Left to treasure her memory are her three children: Tim (Sherry) Becker, Cynthia (Randy) Reid, and Dan (Julie) Becker of Clear Lake, IA; her nine grandchildren: Ben (Tabitha) Becker of Clear Lake, IA, Emily Zanios of Rye, NY, Zachary (Casey) Becker of Brasher Falls, NY, Jacob (Randall & Coltan) Reid of Menomonie, WI, Elizabeth Reid and Elijah Reid of Clear Lake, IA, Eric Becker of Minneapolis, MN, Megan (Cody) Maulsby of Clear Lake, IA, and Leah (Cameron) Becker of Kansas City, MO; nine great-grandchildren: Savannah and Alaina Flores of Clear Lake, IA, Eliza and Maisie Zanios of Rye, NY, Genesis Reid Bohl, Gabriel Reid, Lucy, Lyla, and Eloise Maulsby all of Clear Lake, IA and many dearly loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her parents and siblings: brothers William von Fischer and Phil (Donna) von Fischer, sisters Margaret (Willis) Weber and Marlene (Curtis) Weber, her “sister” Eleanor (Donald) Lee, husbands Dale Becker, William Martin, and her dear husband Darrel Hier after a very short and happy four years of marriage, grandson Thomas Zanios, infant grandson Joshua Reid, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave. North Clear Lake, Iowa 50428. 641-357-2193