Betty Jo Offerman Harker

Betty Jo Offerman Harker was born on August 21, 1923, in Omaha, Nebraska. She grew up in South Omaha, where she graduated from South High School in 1940. Betty continued her education at Nebraska State Teacher’s College in Peru, Nebraska. On January 15, 1944, Betty married John W. Harker, and together they farmed and raised their family on the Harker farm east of Cambridge, Nebraska. In March 1970, Betty and John moved to Ames, Iowa, where she lived until her passing. Betty dedicated thirty years of service to the Finance Department of the City of Ames. From 1973-75, Betty was state chairman for GFOA (then known as the Municipal Finance Officers Association). At that time, the organization had 5,200 members. In that position, she served as liaison representative for the association in all activities of public finance officials in Iowa. Her expertise and commitment to public finance were recognized nationally when she was elected the first woman president of GFOA in 1985, a notable achievement in her distinguished career. Betty's legacy in municipal finance and her contributions to her community remain an inspiration.