Betty Jean Critel

December 25, 1943 - November 10, 2021

Betty Jean Critel, 77, of Grand Island passed away in her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday November 13th at Christ Lutheran Church of Cairo. Reverend Brian Wright will officiate. There will be a gathering of friends and family from 12:00 until time of the service at the church. Betty was born December 25, 1943, in Grand Island, the daughter of Edward and Blanche (Hanousek) Eickhoff. Betty was united in marriage to Edward “Eddy” Perkins on June 19, 1961. She was married twice more, to Walter (Lee) Bennett and Lester Critel. Betty was an LPN and also worked as the Administrator of the Ravenna Nursing Home after completing her Bachelor’s degree from Bellevue College. She was then school nurse for Shoemaker Elementary School for 12 years. Betty enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She loved going out to dinner with friends, playing cards, reading and dancing. Betty was always thinking of others and helped many in need. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church. Those who will cherish her memory include her children, Allen (Susan) Perkins of Elkhorn and Bevia (Bruce) Byrne of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Shelby Flynn and Mickhalla Critel, Amber Rohling, Lindsie Thiems, Brittney Skott, Ryan Perkins, Alex Perkins and Drew Perkins, great grandchildren, Dylan Rohling, Cambrie Rohling, Hudson Perkins, Lilah Kenney, Liona Kenney, Sean Thiems, Xavier Thiems, Chance Thiems and Brookleigh Thiems; and her ornery cat, Jake. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Eddy Perkins; daughter, Victoria Fortune; and brother, Leland Eickhoff. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated to the Cairo Senior Center. Online remembrances may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.