Elizabeth Spletzer

Elizabeth "Betty" Spletzer, age 93, of rural Henderson went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 at her home in Jessenland Township, Sibley County, Minnesota. On February 17, 1923, Herman F. and Marie (Kuhlmann) Thalmann welcomed their fifth daughter, Elizabeth Emma. She was baptized on March 4, 1923 at Zion Lutheran Church in Green Isle Township by Rev. Carl Reuter and confirmed on March 21, 1937 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Green Isle by Rev. R. W. Rottmann. She attended St Paul Lutheran Elementary School and graduated in 1941 from Arlington High School where she was a cheerleader. Betty met the love of her life, Edgar, in 1941 when he came to teach at St Paul Lutheran School in Green Isle. They were married on April 9, 1944 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN by Rev. R.J. Palmer. Their union was blessed with four children. Ed's teaching position called the family to numerous states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio. Always a great Christian example, devoted mother and housewife, Betty also worked at school lunch programs in Illinois and Ohio, including 8 years as Head Cook at Lutheran High School West in Rocky River, Ohio. Later, Betty and Ed worked as a team as apartment managers and caretakers in Bloomington and Hopkins until 1988. They then retired and moved to rural Henderson to enjoy country living and be near their beloved family. Always a willing servant and volunteer, Betty was active in LWML and Ladies Aid, and served as an officer in various church organizations. She also made quilts for Lutheran World Relief and transcribed Sunday School lessons into Braille for the blind. She was a long-time volunteer at the Good Samaritan Home in Arlington and a member of their auxiliary. Family was most important to Betty, especially spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, fishing and playing cards. Betty is survived by her children; daughter Elizabeth of Edina, and sons; E Robert (Carla) of Frankenmuth, MI, Mark (Marlene) of Cedarburg, WI, and P Timothy (Denise) of Henderson: grandchildren; Jennifer (Spletzer) Carpenter, Katherine (Landon) Smith, Jason (Tricia), Sam, Ryan, Paul and Greg; great-grandchildren; Tony Carpenter, Emmalee, Rebecka, Mikayla, Leeah and Ruger Smith, Stephanie Rosario, Aliyah Manthe, Logan and Kiley Spletzer. Further survived by sister-in-law Lydia Gutekunst, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Edgar, grandson Matthew, sisters and brothers-in-law Della (William) Harjes Sr, Trudy (George) Oelfke Sr, Mary (Alan) Klotz, Viola (Warren) Olson, Gerald Lydon and Raymond Feltmann, as well as Edgar's brothers/sisters-in-law. Services will be held Monday, November 14th at 11:00 am at St Paul Lutheran Church in Green Isle, with visitation at the church on Sunday evening from 4:00-6:00 pm and 1 hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to St Paul Lutheran Church, Lutheran Bible Translators or Mayer Lutheran High School.

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