Elizabeth "Betty Lou" Goebel

Betty Lou Goebel passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday, September 20 at Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota at the age of 84 years old. Betty Lou passed away 3 days shy of 66 years in marriage to Victor.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Entombment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 23 and from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, September 24 at the church in Freeport. Parish prayers will be at 4 p.m. Monday evening. 

Elizabeth Dolores Bussmann was born September 12, 1940 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Bernard and Elizabeth (Wenker) Bussmann. On September 23, 1958, she was united in marriage to Victor Goebel at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Betty Lou and Victor started farming together on the Goebel Family Farm north of Freeport and then purchased their own farm south of Freeport as a couple in 1962. They continued farming there, raising 10 children until retiring in 1990. Betty Lou and Victor moved to Freeport and then worked part-time cleaning the Community Center after special events. Betty Lou also did private cleaning for many years.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, Christian Mothers, and Catholic Order of Foresters. After moving to Freeport, she became a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Freeport. She was also part of the local Mission group and loved playing cards. Betty Lou was very involved with her children in the Pelican Peak 4-H Club for many years. She enjoyed gardening, bowling, square dancing, and traveling, especially casino bus trips and mystery tours. She also enjoyed quilt-making. Betty Lou made quilts and blankets for the children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Victor; children, Kevin (Sharon) Goebel of Freeport, Glen (Lori) Goebel of Park Rapids, Lyle (Teri) Goebel of Minnetonka, Don (Sarah) Goebel of Cloquet, Judy (Karl) Klaphake of Melrose, Jean (Bill) Kollodge of Rice, Todd (Michelle) Goebel of Swanville, Dennis (Lisa) Goebel of Rockville, Denise Goebel of Freeport, and Loren (Carrie) Goebel of Freeport; 29 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; siblings, Doris Peterson of Melrose and Bernard Jr (Tillie) Bussmann of Melrose; and sister-in-law, Darlene Bussmann of Melrose.

Betty Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard & Elizabeth Bussmann; sisters and brother, Anna Mae, Cecilia, Bernice, Lorraine, Rita, and Edward; and granddaughter, Amy.