Betty Koechel

Betty Jane Goodale was born at home on January 7, 1935, to Gertrude and Alvah Goodale of Woodside Township. She started first grade when she was only five years old and graduated from Bertha High School in 1952; following graduation she worked for an insurance company in St. Paul. On July 17, 1954, she married Roy John Koechel at the Wrightstown Evangelical United Brethren Church, and moved to the farm west of Bertha where she lived her entire life. Following her marriage she worked for the telephone company in Wadena until she became a mother to Joanie in 1958 and to David in 1960. She was a full-time wife, mother, and farm partner for the next 46 years. Betty was an active member of the Wrightstown United Methodist Church, serving as the church treasurer for more than 30 years, pianist, and a member of the Lydia Circle. She also belonged to the local Home Extension Study Group of Otter Tail County while it was in existence, and for the last several years had been a Woodside Township election judge. Betty's hobbies and interests were gardening, including all the canning and freezing that accompany having a large garden; making scrapbook photo albums for her two grandchildren, Kyle and Christina; working and playing on the computer; doing digital photography and making cards for special occasions for her friends and family; and spending as much time as she could with those people who were dear to her. On September 12, 2004, Grandparents' Day and just one year after being diagnosed with cancer, Betty passed away at Fairview-University Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Larry Hager at the Wrightstown United Methodist Church on September 17, exactly two months after celebrating her and Roy's 50th wedding anniversary. Interment was in the Woodside Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Roy; daughter Joanie Zirbes and son-in-law David, Parkers Prairie; son David and daughter-in-law Kristi of Garland, Texas; grandchildren Kyle and Christina Zirbes; and sister-in-law Etta Goodale of Seattle, Washington. Other survivors include nephew Gary Goodale (wife Gale) of Gig Harbor, Washington; nieces Joanne Hansen of Providence, Utah; Mary McBride (husband James) and Barbara Hoftell (husband Ed) both of Marysville, Washington; Judy Croft (husband Don) of Palm Desert, California; Cheryl Goodale of Fargo, North Dakota; Kathleen Matthews (husband John) of Wasilla, Alaska; and a special little great-nephew, Mark David Matthews, as well as many cousins. Preceding Betty in death were her parents, brothers Herbert and Gordon Goodale, and her sister Margaret (Goodale) Folden. Pallbearers were Harry Wood, Kieth Schwantz, Arvid Fischer, Don Church, Glenn Harris, and James Juvrud. Honorary pallbearers were Don Dillie, Don Carter, Mervin Harris, and Bob Aldrich. Musicians for the service were Kathleen Schwantz-Dahl and Janice Kinn.

Betty Koechel

January 7, 1935 - September 12, 2004