Meet your neighbor Betty Nichols, born in Peoria and raised in La Harpe.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Jenna Clayton, Quill Reporter
Meet your neighbor Betty Nichols, born in Peoria and raised in La Harpe.
She is the daughter of Donald and Florence Stewart. Most of her family is from La Harpe and she was raised with typical small town beliefs and values.
Her family taught her to always respect everyone and treat every person the way they would want to be treated. She was raised with her six siblings, three brothers and three sisters.
She attended La Harpe High School. With her first husband she had two daughters, Angela and Amy. Nichols has six grandchildren.
Nichols moved to Fort Madison, IA in 1986 where she met her current husband, Ivan Nichols. They married in 1997 and moved back to La Harpe. They built a house together and spent much hard work on it.
They spend every chance they get on making their home beautiful. Nichols works hard on her home which is an acre and a half of property and enjoys every minute of it.
She previously owned and ran a small cleaning business. She ran it for six years and recalls that she was always busy with it.
Betty cherishes spending time with her grandchildren and family. She loves riding scooters.
She and her husband search for missing persons and enjoy treasure hunting as well as every weekend spent working outside in their yard.
She looks back on the birth of her two children as the most memorable moments in her lifetime, as well as meeting and marrying her husband Ivan.
Betty believes he was sent straight from God and could have never asked for anyone more perfect or special. "He is one of the most precious gifts I have ever been given", says Nichols. She feels so lucky to have him as a companion.
Nichols exclaims that, "It is so good to be back home and to see so many familiar faces and to be surrounded by my family."