Bradley E. Betts

Bradley E. Betts, 65 of Sioux City, entered eternal life peacefully on Thursday, November 20, 2025. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Sunnybrook Community Church.

Brad was born on June 8, 1960 in Carroll, Iowa to Dewey Betts and Jessie (Rees) McGuire. He was a devoted husband, father, son, and brother. Brad attended Storm Lake schools graduating in 1978. He played multiple sports in high school. He attended Buena Vista University, earning a degree in Business. He married his high school sweetheart, Joni Leadley on July 26, 1980.

He moved to Sioux City, Iowa in 1984 where he accepted a sales manager position for Electrolux. He then took a job with Penncorp Financial in the Instant Issue division where he was top salesman for 11 years, winning many company trips to wonderful places. The last 28 years he was self-employed dealing mostly with annuities. He always took the utmost care of his clients and treated them like family. Brad qualified for countless sales trips which took his family on many vacations to beautiful destinations all over the world.

To his wife he was a wonderful provider, giving her the best life. To his children he was loving, yet fair. His greatest joy in life were the births of his two children, Paige and Jordan. He always supported and attended all their activities. They made him very proud. He was undoubtedly their hero. He made sure to instill values in them, especially emphasizing “respect”. His best buddy (fur baby) Kobe was always spoiled rotten by him, and they enjoyed daily breakfasts together in Brad’s office.

Brad was a “type A” personality. He always kept his cars in pristine condition along with his yard. He enjoyed mowing, cooking breakfast, and singing in the kitchen. He loved helping people with anything he could be of assistance for. He could always be found at his desk on his computer booking another vacation, looking up new vehicles, or finding new gadgets that he wanted. Brad was very active and didn’t often miss a day at the gym. He spent countless hours at Four Seasons catching up with friends, lifting weights, working out on the elliptical, or playing any ball sports like basketball, tennis, and pickleball. He wasn’t the type of person who ever sat still. He always had something to do and was determined to get it all done.

There wasn’t much more he loved in his life than his family, friends, and traveling. Brad lived his life without fear. He enjoyed the thrilling adventures of ziplining in Costa Rica, sky diving in Cabo San Lucas, and driving a race car on the speedway in Las Vegas. He and Joni would spend a couple months each year in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He loved hitting the beach, riding bikes, playing racquet sports, and enjoying fun activities with great friends. Brad loved singing karaoke, and he was very good at it.

His passing will leave a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and many others who were touched by him. We ask that you remember him not for the way his life ended, but rather for the way he lived it. He was smart, witty, and the rock of his family. His favorite quote that he lived by every day and often reminded those around him of was, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” He encouraged his family to continue living life to the fullest with those words always in mind.

Brad is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joni; his children, Paige of Tampa and Jordan of Sioux City. He also leaves behind his father, Dewey Betts (Denise) of Alta; sister, JoEllen Yohnke (Fred) of Ida Grove; mother-in-law, Patricia Carmichael (Garlin) of Alta; along with sisters and brothers in-law; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jessie J. and Edmund McGuire, and his father-in-law, Dennis Leadley.