Betty Schulke

Betty Schulke, age 91, of Brainerd passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at Woodland Good Samaritan Village, Oakwood, in Brainerd. Betty’s service will be Wednesday, February 8, at 11:30 AM, at Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Visitation will begin at 10 AM, at the church. Interment will be at the Baxter City Cemetery at a later date.

Betty Jean Smith was born January 21, 1926 in Peterson, Iowa, to Clarence and Clara (Steir) Smith. She was united in marriage to Gordon Schulke on March 30, 1946 in Cherokee, Iowa. Betty had been a long-time resident of Baxter, Minnesota. She worked at the Paul Bunyan Motel and in Food Service for the Brainerd school district. Family was most important to Betty, and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed travelling, sewing, and crafts, and collected loons. Betty was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Baxter Lions. She was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church for 52 years.

Betty is survived by Gordon, her husband of 70 years; three daughters, Jolene (Micheal) Herman, of Delaware, Ohio, Jeanette (Paul) Ruff, of Baxter, and Judy (Ron) Rardin, of Brainerd; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Franklin (Carol) Smith; and a sister Linda (Al) Appletoft. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Clara; a brother, Merle Smith; and a grandson, Joseph Ruff. Services entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service of Baxter.