Rebecca Lynn Braesch - age 65, of Laurens, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Rebecca "Becky" Lynn (Peterson) Braesch was born June 12, 1954 in Storm Lake, IA. She was the first child born to William Lawrence and Lou Ann (Murray) Peterson. Becky attended Laurens Community Schools. When Becky was 14, she started working at Hinns Super Valu. She continued working there through college. Through that job she developed lifelong friendships with the Hinn and Mefferd families. At Laurens High School she was active in band, vocal music, speech, and debate. She graduated in 1972 and was close to many of her classmates up until her death. After high school, Becky attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg and graduated with a certificate in fashion merchandising. On June 8, 1974 Becky married Robert "Bob" Braesch at the United Methodist Church in Laurens. They spent the first year of their married life on an acreage outside of Albert City. After she got married, she worked at Graham's Department Store in Storm Lake and SafeWell in Albert City. They later moved back to Laurens, and she started working at Larson Oil for Ron Larson. This also developed into a lifelong friendship with Ron and Richelle and their family. In July of 1978 Bob and Becky became parents of a son, Joseph Arvid. In July of 1980, Bob and Becky bought the house where they spent the rest of their lives. In September of 1981, daughter, Betsy Lou was born. Becky loved being a mom to her children and being like a mom to so many. Their neighborhood was very close knit and she developed many lasting relationships.

Becky spent many years volunteering with Upper Des Moines, Meals on Wheels, Pocahontas Community Hospital Hospice Board, and Bethany Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was a Luther League advisor. She enjoyed attending all kinds of school activities that her children, niece Morgan and nephew Spencer were involved in. She held a special place in her heart for their speech activities. In addition, she made special friends with many young people in the community and attended their activities. She often volunteered to help at speech and music competitions. Becky was also involved in the community wide youth group until her death.

Joe and Betsy attended Northwest Missouri State University, and Becky and Bob traveled to Maryville often to see them and many of their friends, who considered her a mom. One of those friends was Weston Sharp, Betsy's future husband. Bob and Becky loved spending time in Maryville and cheering on the Bearcats. Becky enjoyed traveling to area churches with Bob when he was doing lay pastor duties, as she got to meet new people.

In 2007 Becky was blessed with her first of five grandchildren; Kyla. Kaelen, Gwendolyn, Foster, and Olivia would follow. There was nothing she loved more than getting to spend time with them or talk with them on the phone. She rarely missed a dance recital, music recital, church program, or sporting event. She was able to spend a lot of time with all of them while Joe, Stacy, Wes, and Betsy traveled for work and fun. While spending time with her grandkids she was able to meet many of the kid's friends and family who know her as Grandma Becky. She was also fortunate enough to form a lifelong bond with the Schade family and add Sam and Sarah to her grandchildren many years ago.

Becky was well known as a caretaker. She was always there to help anyone who needed it. Later in life, she helped take care of her dad and then her mom, as their health deteriorated. Many other people in Laurens benefitted from her unselfish, caring ways as she drove them to appointments, concerts, performances, etc. or donated food to many causes. Family was extremely important to Becky. She kept in contact with all kinds of cousins and aunts and uncles from her and Bob's family. Becky had a giving heart and there was always enough love to go around for everyone. Her life was her family and she will be forever missed by all.

Becky is survived by her son Joe (Stacy Maciel) Braesch, of Kansas City, MO, and her daughter Betsy (Weston) Sharp of Indianola, IA; her grandkids, Kyla & Kaelen Braesch, Gwendolyn and Foster Sharp, and Olivia Maciel; and her cats, Stud Junior and Otto. She is also survived by her sister Lori (Scott) Darrow and and her brother Brent Peterson; nieces and nephew Morgan (Phillip) Miller, Spencer Darrow, and Teah Peterson; the newest addition that brought so much joy to the family, her great niece, McKenna Ann Miller; her brothers-in-law Tom (Karen) Braesch, Terry (Kathy) Braesch, and Steven (Letha) Braesch; sisters-in-law Carol (Tom) Parks, Nancy (Nick) Ackerman; and many very close friends.

She was preceded into death by her beloved husband Bob; her parents, William and Lou Ann Peterson; her brother Damon; her maternal grandparents Joseph & Celia Francis Murray; paternal grandparents Will & Grace Peterson; her in-laws Arvid and Alvira Braesch; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.