In Memory of Elizabeth "Betty" Davison

Elizabeth “Betty” Davison, age 79 of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025, at her residence.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Father William A. McCarthy will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Visitation will be held from one-hour prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa.  

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Davison, the daughter of James and Irene (Lansink) Ward, was born on June 5, 1946, in Allentown, New Jersey. She received her education and graduated with the class of 1964 from Hightstown High School in Hightstown, New Jersey.

Raised on the family farm, Betty met Leroy Davison Jr. while he was working as a carpenter on a neighboring property. The two quickly formed a connection and were united in marriage on October 23, 1965, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hightstown, New Jersey. Betty and Leroy welcomed four children: James, Thomas, Edward, and Helen.

During a family vacation to Iowa to visit Betty’s grandparents, Leroy and Betty fell in love with Ida Grove. In 1976, the couple made the heartfelt decision to move there and continue raising their family in a community they both came to cherish.

A dedicated homemaker, Betty found great joy in caring for her family. She was an excellent scratch cook and baker with a green thumb and a passion for gardening. Betty spent countless hours tending to her plants and preserving her harvest through canning. She was especially known for her homemade baked goods. Her strawberry and apple pies were delectable, and her cookie raisin tarts became a beloved favorite among her children and friends. While her son Tom was stationed in Iraq, Betty faithfully sent care packages filled with homemade cookies, which her son and his fellow troops fondly described as “worth their weight in gold.”

The Ida County Fair was a cherished tradition for Betty, where she proudly entered multiple baked goods and plants into the open class competition, often earning blue ribbons for her efforts.

Betty was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was active in the Altar Society and previously lent a helping hand with church cleaning duties, offering her time and talents in service to her faith.

Left to cherish her memory include her sons James (Tammy) Davison of Freeland, MI and Thomas (Elizabeth) Davison of Bettendorf, IA; grandchildren Abby, Lindsay and Timothy Davison; brother John (Sharon) Ward of Robbinsville, NJ; extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Leroy Davison Jr.; her parents James and Irene Ward; son Edward Davison; daughter Helen Davison; and granddaughter Emily Davison.