Betty A. Keenan
Ames, IA

Betty A. "BK" Keenan died on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at Bethany Life Communities in Story City, IA. She was born in Chicago on August 3, 1929 to Walter and Fay Keenan. BK enjoyed telling stories about Chicago politics, growing up during the depression, WWII rationing, and playing on the city streets. As a child, her father taught her to swim in Lake Michigan and she used her aquatic skills on the YMCA swimming team, as a Red Cross swimming instructor for the Chicago City Park District during her college years, and as a swimming specialist throughout her professional career.

After graduating from Aquinas Dominican High School in Chicago, BK attended Boston University's prestigious Sargent School of Physical Training, graduating in 1951. She began her long teaching career in 1951 at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN. She taught many sport activities and swimming to high school students from the Durham Preparatory School for one year and then to "St. Kate " college students until she resigned in 1957 to pursue an advanced degree at the University of Iowa.

BK completed her MS degree in 1958 and accepted a position at Iowa State University where she taught a wide variety of physical education courses including: riflery, tennis, badminton, golf, archery, fencing, self-defense, bowling, billiards, folk dance, teaching methodology, and every level of swimming from beginning to Water Safety Instructor. She supervised intramural activities, was the advisor to the fencing club, and coached the fencing team. BK was one of those special people willing to do the "behind the scenes" work that often went unrecognized, and she did it well and with good humor. She often laughingly said that she was the "administrative assistant in charge of audio-visual equipment, bulletin boards, and light bulbs ", but she was so much more than that. Her contributions and expertise were recognized in 1978 when she was awarded a Faculty Citation by the ISU Alumni Association. After suffering a cerebral aneurysm in 1988, BK retired from the Department of Physical education and Leisure Studies in 1989.

BK's volunteer activities included working at the Mary Greeley Medical Center Hospitality Shop and with the Meals on Wheels program. She enjoyed playing tennis and was a formidable cribbage and Trivial Pursuit competitor. An Iowa State fan, she happily cheered on the Cyclones in person as long as her health permitted and then watched on television, still cheering loudly. She was an avid reader, especially mysteries, and enjoyed traveling. Always ready to try something new, she rode in a hot air balloon over Australia, walked on a glacier in Alaska, rode a camel, took a jet boat ride in a canyon, and flew in a floatplane and a helicopter. She liked seeing new things, but she cherished most the time she spent at her lakeside cabin in Manitowish Waters, WI.

Socializing with friends was one of BK's great pleasures. She loved to engage in good-natured banter. Her friends often teased her about her exceptional efficiency, organization and personal quirks, but she always had an apt response that demonstrated her quick wit. If there were a Hall of Fame for the giver of greeting cards, BK would be in it. She seldom missed a birthday or a holiday and her cards were carefully chosen to make the recipients laugh out loud.

BK was an only child and had few relatives, but she still had a wonderful "family". Mary and Emmett Stevermer and their children loved and treated BK as a family member. She treasured Mary and Emmett's friendship, and one her greatest joys in life was being part of Katie, Matt, and Scott's lives.

BK requested that her commitment to health be continued after her death through the donation of her remains to The University of Iowa College of Medicine. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Iowa State University Foundation and designated in support of the Fay and Betty Keenan Fund in the Department of Kinesiology. On line condolences may be sent to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.

Those left behind to remember BK with great fondness include: Mary, Emmett, Catherine, Matthew (Cathy), and Scott (Krissy) Stevermer; her cousins Phyllis (Charles) Cassata and Joan Gerhardt; and her many friends.

A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, August 27, 2012 between 4 and 6 PM at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way. She would not want us to gather in sadness, but to share good stories and to remember her with affection and laughter and perhaps a martini.