Betty was born March 26, 1925, in Prophetstown, the daughter of George and Ellen (Johnson) Kiner. She married Robert L. Esslinger on March 7, 1947, in Viola. He preceded her in death on June 5, 1984. She was a member of First Congregational Church of Christ in Prophetstown.

Survivors include two daughters, Kate (Ralph) Watts of Streator and Ann (John) McCarrell of East Moline; one son, Bill (Cathy) Esslinger of Frankfort; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by one son, Hal Esslinger; one grandson; one grandson-in-law; her sister, Bonnie Newman; and one brother, George Kiner Jr.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, and the funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown, with Rev. Andy Ploenzke, pastor of First Congregational Church of Christ in Prophetstown, officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown.

Memorials have been established to First Congregational Church, Trinity College of Nursing Scholarship Fund, Ann’s Helping Hands in Port Byron, and Hope Creek Care Center in East Moline.