White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

INDEPENDENCE – Betty Lou (Dostal) Knippel, 81 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died peacefully surrounded by her son and daughter on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, after a short battle with cancer.

Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the White Funeral Home in Independence, Iowa, followed by a light luncheon at the VFW in Independence.

Memorial Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.

Betty was born June 4,1944, in Wasejo Township, Minnesota, the daughter of William R. and Alvina A. (Kujath) Dostal. She was the ninth child of ten. She attended school in Dodge Center, Minnesota, and graduated with the high school class of 1962. Betty married Jim Knippel on December 15, 1962, in Dodge Center. She worked at Donaldson’s in Rochester, Minnesota, and sold Miracle Maid Cookware for years. Jim and Betty had two children, Jim, and Nikki. They moved to Independence, Iowa, in 1976, where she worked at Sears, owned and operated Olympic Seed/Knippel Seed Co. and then she worked at Connie’s Hallmark Store in Independence.

Betty loved her family and friends. She loved being a mom, grandma and great grandma above anything else. She was an amazing cook and baker and is known for her famous friendship bread, peanut butter balls and Christmas sugar cookies. Betty loved to take care of others and was extremely giving and selfless. She enjoyed cross-stitching, puzzles, reading, Yahtzee, Racko, Marbles, and the casino. She was Elvis’s #1 fan and even visited Graceland twice with her children. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life and gave her so much joy. Betty loved the color green, her three cups of coffee each morning, and her desserts.

Betty is survived by her son, Jim (Susan) Knippel of North East, Maryland; daughter Nikki (Matt) Matthias of Ankeny, Iowa, and special daughter Alison (Ami) Bowden-Israeli of Alpharetta, Georgia. She has 7 grandsons: Jade (Chelsey), Jordan (Nina), Justin (Emily), Jacob, Jerrick, Griffen (Aitana), and Gavin (Jess); 8 great-grandchildren: Van, Finley, Weylynn, Kaden, Zoe, Lorelai, Harrison, Charlie. She is also survived by two brothers: Bill (Jeanette) Dostal of Alexandria, Minnesota and Eddie Dostal of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin; one sister, Judy (Sherman) Owatonna, Minnesota; and three sister-in laws: Charlene Dostal of Dodge Center, Minnesota, Dorene Dostal of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and Nancy Dostal of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, five brothers and one sister, Roy Dostal, Jerry Dostal, Vernon Dostal, Roland Dostal, Lloyd Dostal, and Dee Renne.

Memorials may be directed to Powell 3 Oncology Floor at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, IA.

A special thank you to all of the Powell 3 Oncology Staff at Iowa Methodist for the wonderful care they gave.

White Funeral Home, Independence, IA, is assisting the family with arrangements.