Obituary: Betty Lou Bergman

Betty Lou Bergman, 86, of rural Hudson, passed away at home on Wednesday, January 14,  2026. She was born October 4, 1939, in Hudson, daughter of Leo and Alma (Engel) Waltmann. Betty graduated from Hudson High School in 1957, then earned her B.A. in Home Economics from Wartburg College followed by a master’s degree in library science from UNI. She married Ernest W. Simon on June 4, 1960, at Zion Lutheran in Hudson. He passed away in November 1966. Betty married Harley  Bergman on December 21, 1968, at Zion Lutheran Church in Waterloo. He preceded her in death in  November of 2017. Betty worked for the Waterloo Public Library beginning as a children’s librarian and  working her way up to Assistant Director, then Interim Director. She retired in 2000.  

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Ernest and Harley; a son, Jeffrey Bergman; and a brother, Henry Waltmann. She is survived by her children: Gregory (Tammy) Bergman of  Hudson and Brenda (Tim) Crawford of Cedar Falls; 8 grandchildren: Tony (Jamie) Dixon, Allison  Bergman, Dan (Kaylie) Bergman, Justin (Nicole) Crawford, Jacob Crawford and Holley (Zach) Berg,  Dakota Bumgardner-Bergman and Caymen Bumgardner-Bergman; 9 great-grandchildren: Faith,  Braydon, Jonathan, Abigail, Dylan, Roselyn, Hesston, Colter and Noelle; and 2 brothers: William (Carol)  and August (Barbara) Waltmann both of Waverly.  

Betty’s Funeral Service was held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Hudson with burial at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church.  Betty could do it all: cooking, baking, crochet, sewing, quilting and gardening. She enjoyed genealogy before the advent of Ancestry.com, which required her to review microfiche and visit courthouses and cemeteries. Betty was an active member at Zion Lutheran when her health allowed, joining in women’s group, choir and helping to prepare many funeral luncheons. She was a former  member of the Altrusa Club and the AMVETS Auxiliary. Most notably, Betty spent all but 14 of her 86  years living on the family farm in rural Hudson. She will be greatly missed.