Bettye Evan Headlee Welcher, age 91, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at home in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was the daughter of Bessie (Reeves) and Leo Headlee, born January 28, 1933, near Dunreath, Iowa. She graduated from Prairie City High School in the Class of 1951. She married James Welcher, June 22, 1951. Bettye worked at Ardans and Bankers Life in Des Moines before moving to the Waterloo area and working at a Ford dealership. Upon their return to Prairie City, she continued to work at Bankers Life. She turned her hobby of making ceramics into a business upon returning to Prairie City where she started up Welcher's Wishing Well. She also worked for Dr. Dockum in Monroe for many years. James and Bettye decided to start new careers together in their 40's and became Hotel Managers in various LaQuinta Hotel locations in the United States and then settled in San Antonio for 12 years while Jim worked at LaQuinta's corporate office and Bettye continued to manage at hotels as a substitute. They retired to Las Vegas in 1994. During their 72 years of marriage, Bettye enjoyed traveling with Jim and loved her many trips to Europe, Alaska, Panama and back to Iowa to spend time with family. Her greatest moments of joy were times with her children, grandkids and great-grandchildren. Bettye was talented, creative, and artistic. In addition to her beautiful ceramic work, she was a skilled painter, seamstress, and card maker.

She will be missed by many family members and friends including her husband, James Welcher, son Paul Welcher and Rene' Gonzales of Las Vegas, Nevada, daughter Patty and Max Keuning of Prairie City, Iowa, grandchildren Tammy and Kevin Steenhoek, Tarrell and Holly Keuning, Troy and Brooke Keuning and Great Grandchildren, Gabriel, Paige, Addison, Devon, Talia, Jessa, Campbell, Holden, Ford, Sutton, and Briar. Preceding her in death were her father, Leo Headlee, mother Bessie Headlee, brother Gayle Headlee, and great-granddaughter Tatum Keuning. Services will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 10:30 am at the Pleasant Hill Country Church. Burial will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery south of Prairie City. The family will greet friends at the Prairie City Community Building following the burial with a luncheon from 12:00 - 2:30 pm. Memorials may be directed to family and will be used towards a future project in Prairie City. Checks may be made payable to Patty Keuning. Condolences left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com