Elizabeth (Betty) Krautkremer Ziegler, 86, passed away peacefully January 23rd, 2012 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital after a short illness. Betty was born April 1, 1925 to Edward and Julia (Gobel) Krautkremer in Mankato. She attended St. Peter and Paul Elementary School and Loyola High School. She was selected homecoming queen her senior year. She worked as a nurse’s aid at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato. After graduation, she attended the Army Nurse’s Corp in Chicago.She returned to Mankato and worked as a dental assistant. On May 7th, 1946 she married Lyle Ziegler. They began farming in the Nicollet, MN area. In 1958, they moved to a dairy farm outside of Cokato where they continued to farm until they sold their farm and moved into town in 1976. Over the years, Betty worked as a purchasing agent for Land o Nod/ Richwell Furniture and at The Marketplace in the flower department.
Betty and Lyle had 4 children, Nancy Olson of Little Falls, Tim (Nancy) of Elk River, Ginny (Kevin) Camerer of Owatonna, and Gina Beers of Sioux Falls, SD. They had 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. While in Cokato, she also “adopted” another family, Robert and Audrey Webster and their 5 children. There was special place in her heart for her many friends.
She was a long time volunteer for her church, St. John’s Catholic Church of Darwin. She volunteered in many different ways over the years. She was recognized for this service by the Bishop when she was presented with The Bishop’s Medal for Service.
Betty enjoyed baking cookies, bread, buns, and cakes then giving them to her friends and family. She was a skilled seamstress and made wedding dresses for 2 of her daughters and a granddaughter. In later years, she enjoyed being a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Quilting Group. She was especially proud of the baby blankets they made for Birthright.
Her love for gardening could be seen by all. She spent much time planting and caring for the flowers in her front yard and apartment. Betty did not like grouchy people and worked hard to make everyone around her smile. She enjoyed going on adventures to new places, including getting lost, and experiencing new things with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Edward Jr., and her husband.
She is survived by her sister, Mary Jane Fitterer, Litchfield, her children, grandchildren, great-grand children, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service: Sat. 1/28, 11 am at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin. Visitation: Fri. 1/27, 4-7pm at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato (320)286-2534, and 1 hr. prior to service at church.