Betty Thomas

Betty Thomas, 93, God has welcomed a great lady, the beloved matriarch of the Thomas family, peacefully returned home on Sunday, August 30, 2026, leaving a void to her family she spent her life building.
Born on July 10, 1933, Betty’s greatest joy and proudest achievement was her role as a mother. She raised seven children with a tireless spirit and a heart that always had room for one more at the table. Whether she was hosting a holiday or housing those who needed a home, cooking a great meal like it was no problem at all, her life was a testament to the beauty of selfless love. This was all in addition to working full-time until retirement. Always making things seem effortless.
She taught, by example, her children the value of faith, kindness, hard work, and optimism and ensured that no matter how busy the house got, each of them felt like her favorite. Her home was at times occasional chaos but always steadied by unconditional support. Betty did everything with grace that never wavered.
Betty is survived by her seven children and their spouses, Linda and Dave Nicol, Bob and Melody Thomas, Jody and Max Wilson, Craig Thomas, Debbie Dearman, Kolleen and Jerry Peterson, and Becky and Perry Howell; her 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, all of whom carry a piece of her spirit; and her 5 surviving siblings. She joins her late husband, Meade Thomas, and her parents and her siblings Robert and Cleo in eternal rest.
A Catholic funeral mass to honor her incredible life will be held at 10:30am on Friday, September 11, 2026, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hastings with the Rosary beginning at 10:00am. Inurnment will be at 1:30pm, Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Grand Island Veterans Cemetery in Grand Island, NE. The family welcomes all who were touched by her kindness to join in celebrating a life exceptionally well-lived.