Betty Ann (Foerch) Hastings

Betty Ann Foerch Gerstner Hastings 90, slipped into the arms of the Lord on June 21, 2017. She formerly lived in Logansport and Columbus, Ohio, but she had been a resident of Traditions at Reagan Park in Avon, Indiana, since November 2014.

Born August 20, 1926, to Harry and Marie Hilton Foerch of Logansport, Betty graduated from Logansport High School in 1944, and immediately enrolled in the Navy Nurse Corp training program at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, hoping to help in the war effort. Since WWII was over by the time she graduated, she stayed in Columbus and worked many years at Grant Hospital in the ER and later as Operating Room Supervisor. Fondly known as “Gert” around the hospital, Betty also earned her BSN from Ohio State University, where she taught nursing clinicals for many years. She finished her nursing career as a special surgical nurse for the orthopedic surgical team of Schinbach, Ridgeway, and Beattie in Columbus.  After the death of Dr. Hastings, she returned to Logansport to be near family.

She is survived by one daughter, Mary Margaret Gerstner (Philip) Murphy, and two grandchildren, Shannon Murphy (Mark) Fowler, of Cicero, Indiana, and Nicholas A. Murphy of Indianapolis. In addition, she has four great grandchildren, McKenna, Bryn, Eiryn, and Declan.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and two husbands, Robert Gerstner and Dr. John E. Hastings.

Betty was a good friend to all and most remember her gorgeous rose bushes and luscious tomatoes that she grew and gave away to church members and neighbors each summer.

She loved to travel, making three trips to Europe while in her 70s including a trip to France where she made friends with a member of the French Resistance who shared with her memories and pictures. She walked Omaha Beach even climbing down inside a German machine gun bunker and visited the D Day cemeteries.  Betty also toured Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland.

 She loved animals and raised Great Danes, winning Best of Breed at the Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Garden, New York, with her beloved Great Dane, Trebor’s Harmony, in 1960. In later years, she had an array of Siamese and house cats.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, June 26, 2017, at All Saints Catholic Church, with Fr. Dominic Petan officiating.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 25, 2017, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, at Kroeger Funeral Home.

 Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Donations can be made to the Humane Society of Indiana, All Saints Catholic Church, Traditions at Reagan Park, and Seasons Hospice of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Family and friends may leave a memory of condolence by visiting the online obituary at www.kroegerfuneralhome.com.