Betty J. Capener

Betty Jane Willis Capener, 95, of Papillion, Nebraska, formerly of Spencer, Iowa, passed away on 9/2/2026. She was born on 11/30/1930 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Betty spent most of her childhood in Ruthven, Iowa, with her beloved grandparents, Nora and Earl Hoagland, and her father, Lyle Willis. After graduating from high school in 1949, Betty married the love of her life, Wendell Capener. The two moved to Spencer, Iowa, just a few years later.

Together, Betty and Wendell raised their two daughters, Cindy and Brenda, enjoying their life in Spencer for many years. After Wendell’s retirement, they became “winter snowbirds,” traveling to southern Texas with other family and friends from the area to enjoy some warmer weather. Wendell passed away in Harlingen, Texas in 1987. Betty continued to travel with her stepmother, Enid, and a friend for years. In 2006, she moved to Papillion, NE, to be near family and joined the Trinity Village Retirement Community. She lived at Trinity for twenty years with favorite pastimes of playing bridge, reading, and attending family gatherings. Her son-in-law’s family took her in as their own, creating many lasting memories.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband: Wendell Capener; grandparents: Nora and Earl Hoagland; father: Lyle Willis; stepmother: Enid Willis; brother: Don Willis; brothers-in-law: Keith Capener and Dale Freeburg; sister-in-law: Evelyn Freeburg; and daughter-in-law: Nicole Case.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Brenda (Patrick) Hochstein of Huntsville, AL and Cynthia (Roger) Case of LaVista, NE; grandchildren: Nicholas Case of Gretna, NE, Ian (Micaela) Hochstein of Seattle, WA, Abbey (Zachary) Hall of Huntsville, AL and Erin (Andrew) Roche of Omaha, NE; great-grandchildren: Evie Case, Clara and Tess Hochstein, Wesley and Samuel Hall, Nora, Claire, and Alice Roche; brother-in-law: Douglas (Pam) Capener; and sisters-in-law: Audrey Willis, and Jean Hill.

Betty will be remembered and missed by those who knew her. Visitation will be at Roeder Mortuary in Gretna, NE, on 9/9/2026, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and funeral services at 11:00 a.m. A family burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery in Ruthven, IA, at noon on 9/10/2026.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - Gretna Chapel - 11710 Standing Stone - Gretna, NE - 402-332-0090

www.RoederMortuary.com