Betty Jo (Sanders) Heimerl born May 11, 1934, in Shattuck, OK, died December 17, 2006 in Mesa.  She was a long-time resident of Apache Junction.  In 1974, she and her husband moved from Kenosha, WI to Apache Junction, AZ with their two children.  They owned the Sundowner Trailer Park.  Betty was a member of the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce during the 1970's.  She also worked with the National Hockey Association for the Deaf, which gave kids with hearing impairments the opportunity to learn and play hockey with pro hockey players.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Desert Samaritan Hospital.

In 1980, Betty returned to college and received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Mesa Community College. As a registered nurse she worked in the E.R. and later worked as a supervisor of Casa Blanca Clinic.  She was a loving wife and mother.  Her care and compassion for others was expressed in her work as a healthcare professional.

Betty is survived by her husband, Louis G. Heimerl, her son Louis and wife Christy; her daughter Betsy and husband Scott Swigert; grandchildren, Matthew and Lindsay Swigert, and Dustin Burch.  Betty was preceded in death by her mother, Linda Sanders; father, Fred Sanders; and brother, Bob Sanders.  

Services are to be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2006 at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, 7900 E. Main, Mesa, AZ.  Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley.  Betty's lovely smile and caring nature will be missed by all.

Published in The Arizona Republic on Dec. 20, 2006