Elizabeth ‘Betty’ J. Ondracek

Jan. 24, 1943 – Aug. 7, 2026

Elizabeth “Betty” J. Ondracek, 83, of Grand Island, formerly of Greeley, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Country House in Grand Island.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley, with Father Lawrence Vadakkan presiding. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley, with a Rosary following at 7 p.m. Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Betty was born on Jan. 24, 1943, to Henry “Hank” and Ethel (Whalen) Rother in Wolbach. She grew up in Wolbach and graduated from Wolbach High School in 1961. On June 25, 1966, Betty was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Ondracek. Together, Betty and Bob built a life centered around farming, family, and hard work.

Betty was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, and the Greeley American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Betty was a loving and caring woman whose greatest joy in life was taking care of others. She had an especially tender heart for children and found great happiness in making sure they felt loved, safe, and cared for. Her nurturing spirit touched the lives of countless children and families over the years, and the love she gave so freely will never be forgotten.

She had a beautiful appreciation for life’s simple pleasures, beginning with a good cup of coffee in the morning. Betty loved being outdoors, whether caring for her flowers, or tending to the farm. She enjoyed bowling and playing bunco with the ladies in Greeley. She was a wonderful cook and loved preparing meals for the people around her. For Betty, cooking was about much more than putting food on the table — it was another way to care for people, bring everyone together, and show them how much they were loved.

Betty was also a collector of just about everything. To others, something might have seemed ordinary, but to Betty, it often held a memory, a story, or a reason it deserved to be kept. She will also be remembered for her joyful and playful spirit. Betty could find a reason to say “cheers” and celebrate even the smallest moments. And if Betty called you “Dolly,” you knew you were loved. It was a simple little word that became unmistakably hers and had a way of making everyone around her feel special.

Above all, Betty will be remembered for her generous heart, gentle spirit, and lifelong devotion to caring for others. She showed her love through her time, her cooking, her helping hands, and the countless little things she did each day without expecting anything in return.

Those left to cherish Betty’s memory include her son, Heath Dugan (Mallory); grandsons, McCoy, Chet, and Moxon Dugan; her siblings, Donna Dugan (Joe), Tom Rother, Minnie Gellatly, Patti Applegate (Mike), Rollie Rother (Julie), Henry Rother, Ted Rother, Mike Rother (Cindy), Stan Rother (Trisha), Mary Gall (Jason), Perky Rother (Trina), Cheryl Martinsen (Rick), and Sandy Rother; sisters-in-law, Betty Wagner, Katherine Rother, and Rhonda Rother; along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; extended family members; and many dear friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Henry “Hank” and Ethel Rother; her husband, Robert “Bob” Ondracek; brothers, Johnny (Charlene), Doug, Ed, and Bob Rother; brother-in-law and sister-inlaw, Carl and Dona Ondracek; brothers-in-law, Drue Gellatly, Dan Hellbusch, and Jack Wagner; sisters-in-law, Ruth Ann Rother and Judy Rother; nephews, Dustin Dale Rother and Brad Rother; niece, Shannon Rother; niece-in-law, Peggy Ondracek; and other beloved family members who went before her.

And in Betty’s spirit, one final “cheers” to a life spent loving and caring for others.