Private family services will be held for Bette at the Faith Community Church.

An open to the public Celebration of Life Service is planned for the summer of 2021.

A livestream video of Bette's service will be available at https://faithccpalmer.org/

Memorials can be made to:

Rolfe Library, Twin Lakes Bible Camp, UnityPoint Hospice or the Mike Augustine Memorial Fund

Bette A. Brinkman – age 92, of Rolfe, passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at her home near Rolfe, Iowa.

Elizabeth Ann "Bette" Augustine was born August 16,1928, to Florence (Ours) Augustine and Harry Emmet "Mike" Augustine in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her older sister Ellen grew up during the depression in rental homes on the east side of Des Moines, moving to another home each time the rent was raised. Hers was a childhood of riding bikes, swimming, roller skating, ice skating and playing tennis. Bette graduated from East High in 1946. The dear friends she made at East High, where her Dad coached and taught, lasted for a lifetime.  Bette attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1951,  where she majored in Home Economics and met a shy football player named Phil Brinkman. They married on July 8, 1951, and spent the first year of their marriage in Alabama where Phil was in the U.S. Army and Bette taught school. In 1952, they moved home to the Brinkman Farm in northwest Iowa, where they resided for the rest of their lives together. Bette taught Home Ec for a year in Rolfe before they started a family.

Daughters Laurie Ellen and Karen Nan and son August Aaron were born within about 2 years. Seven years later, younger brother Kyle Phillip was born. Bette spent the rest of her life delighting in and serving her children and grandchildren. Each of them was convinced they were her favorite! She was a great listener and a gentle, accepting presence within her family, church, and community. At age 34 Bette put her faith in Jesus Christ, which changed her life. The love of God that she experienced spilled over to all she touched. Bette and Phil were members of the Rolfe Presbyterian Church, Rolfe Shared Ministry and later, Faith Community Church.

Bette taught Home Ec again at RHS to help put the kids through college. She spent the last of her working years, until the age of 75, as Director of the Rolfe Public Library. She extended hospitality to all her patrons and loved helping both adults and kids pick out just the right book! She enjoyed biking and walking on the gravel road near the farm and often swam laps at the Rolfe Pool. In her later years, Bette continued to enjoy her home and family, the ladies Bible study, PEO sisters and friends who came to visit at her home and later at Pocahontas Manor. She loved listening to audio books, Wendel Berry novels, short stories and scripture read aloud, big band music and hymns. She was famous for walking laps with her walker around the nursing home and even outside on sunny, winter days. The last 6 months of her life, Bette was delighted to be in the familiar surroundings of her own home on the farm in midst of the warmth and fun of family, friends and wonderful caregivers.

Survivors include her children, Laurie (Alan) Jensen of Ames, Karen (Tom) Vinson of Chatfield, MN, Gus (Nancy) Brinkman of Rolfe and Kyle (Candace) Brinkman of Rolfe; grandchildren, Phillip (Missy) Jensen, Andrew (Shannon) Jensen, Stefan (Carrie Greco) Jensen, Jamie (Ethan) VanDrunen, Jodie (Marc Tannous) Vinson, Meg (Matt) Koenitzer, Jana (Billy) Dreesman, Kelsey (Ryan) Helmkamp, Alisa Brinkman, Marcie (Taylor) Hircock, Jay Brinkman, Erin (Jake) Letsche, Mitch Brinkman, Kara Brinkman, Anne (Chad) Sutter, Joel Brinkman, Janie Brinkman, Malichii Brinkman, Kohta Brinkman and 25 great-grandchildren.

Bette was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Phil; a sister, and granddaughter, Grace Ellen Jensen.