Betty Wienhoff, nee Betty Jane Smalley, of Quincy, passed away Tuesday (December 6) at the Adams Pointe Assisted Living Facility. Her death was due to congestive heart failure.

Betty was born and raised in Muscatine, Iowa. Being an extremely shy girl, her mother enrolled her in elocution lessons and the YMCA. At the Y, she took to the water and eventually became a strong swimmer, excelling in the backstroke on the swim team, lifeguarding at the local pool, and even ‘shadow or mirror swimming’ – a form of synchronized swimming. Other interests of hers were art and fashion. In 1943 she received a diploma from the Chicago Art Institute specializing in dress design, map making, and fine arts. In 1944, this once shy girl joined the Women’s Army Corp (WAC), where she used her artistic and illustration skills contributing to Training Literature and Visual Aids. After the war, she went back to the Chicago Art Institute for further studies then met her first husband Frank Dutt. Having two children with him, Margot and Hank, they eventually settled in Quincy. She painted throughout her life, watercolors being her favorite medium, and submitted her works for shows throughout the years. An interesting note, in the early years in Quincy she contributed her painting skills to sets for Quincy Little Theater productions. In 1967, she converted to Catholicism, and married Bert Wienhoff.

For a period, she and Bert were dedicated members of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. She was also a devoted member of the Adapted Aquatics, an American Red Cross Program for people with special needs, run by Joanne Ortwerth. They affectionately called themselves ‘The Water Bugs’. She and Bert always had a large vegetable garden and would reap the benefits throughout the year, by canning their own produce. Their strawberry jam was a great favorite among her friends and relatives. She was a longtime cancer survivor having had two mastectomies. Even with these health issues, she was an extremely positive person not allowing her setbacks to overshadow her self-worth and joy of life.

She will be very much missed by her many friends and family.

Survivors include her brother Bob Smalley (Joan Baurer) of San Diego, California; her daughter Margot Mills of Mesa, Arizona; her son Hank Dutt (Greg Dubinsky) of San Francisco, California; her stepson Jerry Wienhoff (Lynn Brinkley), of Pensacola, Florida; her grandsons Wayne Wienhoff (Lisa Offenborn), of Navarre, Florida and Jason Wienhoff, of Pensacola, Florida; her great-granddaughter Cherokee Wienhoff, of Navarre, Florida; and her daughter-in-law Betty Ann Wienhoff, of Quincy. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bert.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 12, 2016 at St. Francis Catholic Church at 10 am. A visitation will start at 9 am until the time of the services. Interment in Sunset Cemetery of the Illinois Veterans Home with military rites conducted at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to the “St. Francis School”, 1720 College Ave, Quincy, IL 62301 or to the “American Red Cross”, (Health & Safety, Adapted Aquatics Quincy Chapter), 1100 River Dr., Moline, IL 61266 will be gratefully accepted.
Funeral arrangements in care of Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. www.dukerandhaugh.com