Betty Jean Ernst Polanka   

     She was born at home in St. Elmo, IL, December 4, 1933.   She graduated from Kinmundy High School in IL and Gradwohl Institute of Medical Technology in St. Louis.  
She married Joseph R. Polanka Sr. on November 20, 1955.  After living in Illinois, she and Joseph moved to Bartholomew County in 1969 and have resided there since that time.  
She was a member of the Bear Creek Baptist Church, the Gideon Auxiliary, the Columbus Flower Lane Garden Club,  the Indiana Daffodil Society and the Indiana Daylily and Iris Society serving as the current president.  She retired in 1999 from Decatur Co. Memorial Hospital after working there for 15 years.

     She will be missed by her family and her many friends.  She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Joseph, her 3 children: son Joseph Polanka Jr. of Westport, daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Eric Green of Tulsa, OK, son and daughter-in-law David and Gwen Polanka of Panama City, FL; her 7 grandchildren: Adam, Jonathan, and Connor Polanka of Westport, Ryan and Erin Green of Tulsa, OK and Yvette and Jasmine Polanka of Panama City, FL.  She will also be missed by her mother, Louise Ernst of Kinmundy, IL, sister, Shirley Eckman of Decatur, IL, brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Karen Ernst of Alton, IL, brother, Dr. Garry Ernst of Panama City, FL and 12 nieces and nephews.  Her father, Eugene Ernst, preceded her in death.

     Funeral services will be held on Thursday, 1:00 pm, at Bear Creek Baptist Church under the direction of Bass and Gasper Funeral Home in Westport, IN. Officiating will be Reverend Robert Estes.  Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Burial will be at the Bear Creek Cemetery.   Memorial gifts may be made to Gideon Memorial Bible Program or to the Betty Polanka Scholarship Fund.