Betty Jo Olney

Betty Jo Olney, 91 of McCook died Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at Hillcrest Nursing Home.

Betty Jo was born on September 22, 1924 to Rudolph and Hazel (Kersey) Sell, two years later her brother, Bob was born.  The four of them lived on the Sell family farm at Huntley, Nebraska until 1938.  At that time they moved to Stamford where the family ran “Rudy’s Place”, a café - card hall- pool room.

Betty Jo graduated from Stamford then attended Kearney State Teacher’s College and graduated in 1945.  During the school year of 1945 – 1946 she taught typing, bookkeeping and shorthand at Orleans.

Betty Jo married Leonard “Curly” Olney when he returned home from WWII, they were married in Hiawatha, Kansas on May 29, 1946.  They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in June of 1946.  Curly enrolled at UNL, and Betty Jo was employed as Secretary to the State Superintendent of Schools.

From Lincoln, they moved to Hastings followed by Grand Island.  During this time Curly was employed at International Harvester Corp. and Betty Jo worked at the Registrars Office at Hastings College.

In 1959, Betty and Curly moved to Omaha where Curly was Branch Manager for IH and Betty Jo was the Registrar at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

In 1968, they moved to McCook where they started Curly Olneys, Inc. selling International Harvester.  Betty Jo worked full time as office manager/bookkeeper.

Betty Jo was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed playing bridge, golf and knitting.  She absolutely loved Nebraska Cornhusker football.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curly Olney, her parents, Rudy and Hazel Sell; brother, Bob Sell; sister-in-law, Helen Sell; brother-in-law, Vincent Olney; and in-laws, Henry and Sophie Olney.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Susan Rhynalds of Cape Canaveral, Fl; nephews, Tim (Vicki) Rhynalds of Queenstown, MD and Bill (Donna) Rhynalds of Bishopville, MD; nieces, Rita (Roger) Bentley and Robin Sell of McCook; along with great nieces and nephews.

Graveside services are Monday, November 30, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Stamford Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Stamford News letter, PO Box 1, Stamford, NE 68977.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.