Betty J. (Terry) Hasch

Betty Jean (Terry) Hasch was born in Edgerton, WY on March 22, 1938, to Clifford M. and Lillian A. (Swanson) Terry. They lived in Wyoming until Betty was five years old, when the family moved to Cody, NE, and soon after, moved to Bassett, NE. Betty died at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care facility on January 7, 2025, with Ernie Hasch, her husband of 67 1/2 years, by her side.

Betty was the second of ten children born into the Terry family. She loved her siblings fiercely, and throughout her life, cherished opportunities to get the entire clan together for reunions and celebrations. She was widely known as a marvelous hostess and cook, and the family noted that there were occasions when more than 35 people were in her home for holiday dinners. She was most famous for baking dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls, which were coveted by family members and sought after at church auctions, commanding what Betty thought was an incredible price.

Betty graduated from Rock County High School with the class of 1956. The next year, she married Ernest A. Hasch, a classmate, and the couple moved to Livingstone, MT, where Betty worked in a Safeway store and later a bank, and Ernie worked on the railroad. They lived there for nearly two years, until a farm accident in Rock County necessitated Ernie’s return to operate his family’s farm. This made Betty a “farm wife.” Soon after their return to north central Nebraska, Ernie and Betty were blessed by children Christy (1960), Kevin (1961) and Brian (1963). Brian died at age four months.

Betty and Ernie always had a large garden, and Betty made it a point to preserve much of the produce they harvested. She canned and froze vegetables often with the help of her mother and sister, Patty. Although it was a lot of work, the women made it a point to enjoy each others’ company while doing their work. Kevin and Christy remember being recruited to pick strawberries, tomatoes, and corn, and also selling the surplus in Bassett, from their wagon.

While in high school, Betty was employed at the Van Norman Rexall Drug Store after school and on weekends. She delighted in helping to fund some of the “extras” for her siblings, including formal clothing and special projects. After marriage, Ernie and Betty enjoyed hiring her brothers to help on the farm in the summers, providing most of the “Terry boys” with summer employment working in the hayfield and caring for animals. We continue to hear about the shenanigans that occurred when the Terrys gather together!

Betty loved following her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, and was a “super fan” of the Rock County Tigers, and later, the North Central Knights. She was very enthusiastic about Cornhusker Football and Volleyball, and tried to listen to or watch as many games as possible.

A born-again Christian, Betty shared her faith with her family and friends. She was a member of the Bassett Methodist Church and was also a weekly attendee at services of the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth, NE, where she was a member of the choir. When she was still able, Betty also regularly attended services at the Ainsworth Assembly of God Church. Betty enjoyed various Bible Studies over the years, and was always a ready volunteer to help with youth groups and special projects or dinners for church groups. Betty lived her faith daily, and felt assured that she would be greeted by a host of loved ones when she arrived in heaven.

Betty considered her high school years to be especially memorable, and loved to keep up with friends from that time of her life. Betty was proud to share her talents as a baton twirler with the marching band, and also played clarinet. Square dancing was another activity she enjoyed during her high school years as well. She has been a very reliable attendee at Rock County High School Alumni Banquets.

During her young adult years, Betty worked “off the farm” as an Avon Lady, at Jamison’s Clothing Store, at Dr. Mabie’s office, and Art Weber’s Law Office. She served as Deputy County Clerk under her mother-in-law, Mildred Hasch, for many years. After the passing of her father-in-law, Betty and Ernie took over Hasch Insurance Agency, and became certified to sell various insurance products. They later purchased Weber Insurance Agency as well. Through all of this time, Betty continued to be an avid gardener and reluctant farmhand to Ernie. She drove many miles getting her children to school, events, and herself to work in town. Christy and Kevin could not recall a single event they were involved in without both parents present to support them.

Membership in the Twilight Belles Extension Club was important to Betty and resulted in long-term friendships with these women. In recent years, Betty cultivated other long-standing relationships with her Wednesday/Friday coffee groups with her friends at the Pizza Place, where they usually played cards (Golf). Betty kept score, and probably won more frequently than one might expect in a game of chance! Betty had an exceptional relationship with her sister, Patty Nelson, and both Christy and Kevin considered Patty to be a second mother.

Betty was predeceased by her parents, Clifford and Lillian Terry; parents-in-law, Art and Mildred Hasch; son, Brian Hasch; granddaughter, Sarah Hasch; brothers, Bob Terry and Reid Terry; sister, Nancy Terry; son-in-law, Leslie Hemphill; brothers-in-law, Dean Hasch, Bob Brown, and Jack Sanger; sisters-in-law, Susan Terry, Shirley Brown and Linda Sanger and special niece, Terisa Nelson.

Left to mourn Betty’s passing are her husband, Ernie Hasch of Bassett; her children, Christy Hasch of Concordia, KS, and Kevin Hasch (Elizabeth) of Phillipsburg, KS. Betty especially enjoyed her special role as grandma to Emily Hasch (Justin Griffith, fiancé) of Wichita, KS; Rachel Hasch of Salina, KS; and step-granddaughter, Melina Hemphill of Scandia, KS. Betty’s surviving siblings are Patty (Roy) Nelson of Ainsworth, Dick Terry (Kathy Smith) of Aurora, CO, Ross (Brenda) Terry of Katy, TX, Ronnie (Layah) Cottonwood of Kalispell, MT; Ray (Deb) Terry of Lincoln, NE; and Randy Terry of Lincoln, NE. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Sherry Terry of Santa Rosa, CA, Velna Hasch of Marvin, SD and Kimberly Terry of Hartford, WI. She has a step-great-grandson, Gavin Massell, of Concordia, KS. Betty is also mourned by a host of surviving nieces and nephews, many of whom got special instruction on bread baking.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 in the Bassett Methodist Church with Pastor Jenice Epp officiating. Music was provided by Sherry Campbell playing the song “How Great Thou Art” and the congregation sang “In The Garden” and “It Is Well With My Soul.” The obituary was read by Christy Hasch and special remarks were provided by Raymond Terry. Casket bearers were; Brandon Terry, Jason Terry, Rodney Nelson, Liz Terry, Aaron Terry and Nathan Nelson. Memorials were suggested to the Ainsworth United Methodist Church Youth Program, the Bassett Methodist Church, the Rock County Alumni Association or to the donor’s choice in Betty’s name. Interment followed in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

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