Betty L. Joy

   Betty Lou Joy, 82, of Ankeny, died Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Prairie Vista Village in Altoona.  A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Private family burial will be held.  Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can be left at the funeral home.

   Betty, the daughter of John and Lupe (Vasquez) Padilla, was born January 3, 1944, in Newton.  She graduated from Newton High School in 1962. She worked at UPS for several years.  Betty was united in marriage with Ron Joy on August 15, 2006, in Las Vegas. She enjoyed reading, playing pool, attending the Rock ‘n’ Roll Reunion, and spending time with her family and friends.  She especially doted on her grandchildren but had a special place in her heart for all the children in her family. 

   Those left to honor Betty’s memory include her husband, Ron Joy of Ankeny; her children, Patrick (Jane) Messerly of West Des Moines and Elizabeth Messerly (Jennifer Fogleman) of King George, VA; her grandchildren, Emily Messerly of Chicago and Andrew Messerly of West Des Moines; her siblings: Art Rodriquez of Newton, Jerry (Sue) Manning of Monroe, Donna Eddy of Newton and Bonnie Burgart of Newton; brother-in-law, Steve Kannenberg of Des Moines; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her aunt and uncle who raised her, Fred and Connie (Vasquez) Manning; her brother, Jesse (Ruth) Rodriquez; sisters, Carol (Jim) Bogart and Marilyn Kannenberg; nephew, Jake Manning; and her sister-in-law, Florence Rodriquez.

   She will be missed by all who knew her.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty L. Joy, please visit our floral store.