Betty Ann (Kotalik) Mahoney, 82, Pawnee City, formally of Tecumseh, Nebraska, entered eternal rest on Saturday, January 31, 2015. She was born on the family farm west of Table Rock to James and Helen (Beranek) Kotalik on December 5, 1932.  She attended District 17 country school and Table Rock High School graduating with the class of 1950.  After graduating at the age of 17, Betty completed a state exam to become an elementary teacher.  For the next 18 years she attended Peru State College at night and during the summers before graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in 1967.

On July 25, 1953, Betty was united in marriage to Jack Mahoney.  To this union, one daughter was born, Lucinda Mae, on October 10, 1968.  Jack and Betty made their home in Tecumseh.  Together they celebrated 48 years of marriage before Jack’s passing on February 27, 2002.

Her Czech heritage, family, music, and her great love for educating children were her life.  Betty’s parents taught her and sister, Alice, music and dance. At the age of seven, Betty began performing in public with Alice.  She sang, played piano, guitar, and accordion.  Czech and country music filled her home.  Jack, Betty, and Ken Kuhl performed as K & M 3 at country music contests across Nebraska. They also traveled the state as judges.  In 1963, Betty was asked to join the Grand Ole Opry, but teaching and family were her priority and passion.

Betty taught in Pawnee and Johnson County Rural Schools before teaching 30 years at Tecumseh Public.  After retiring of 44 years of teaching in 1995, she continued to substitute teach at the Tecumseh parochial and public schools.

Betty loved to travel after her retirement. Traveling and learning different cultures was educational for her.  She visited all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe.  She traveled to the Czech Republic four times, and met Kotalik families.  In 2004, she traveled to Jamaica on a Missionary Trip to teach reading in a local school.

Betty was a member of the First Baptist Church, American Legion Auxiliary Post #0002, local (Tecumseh), state (Nebraska), and National Educational Associations, ZCBJ Fraternal Lodge, Delta Kappa Gama, Phi Delta Kappa and Daughters of the Nile.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother and sister-in-laws, Dick and Lois Mahoney, Marvin “Pud” and Twilla “Dutch” Kalina; and nephew, Terry Kalina.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Lucinda (Chris) Dowding; grandchildren, Brayden and Kiersten Dowding all of Lincoln; sister, Alice (Don) Siske; niece, Holly Siske all of Table Rock; brother and sister-in-laws, Gene and Phyllis Daniels of Lincoln; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2015 with Rev. Hugh Giesbrecht officiating.  Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Wednesday, February 4, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church.   Memorials may go to an educational fund for her grandchildren.   Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Bohemian Cemetery, east of Table Rock, Nebraska.   Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.