Obituary for Betty Lou Zahler

Betty Lou Zahler, June 27, 1933 to Dec 17, 2022, passed after a long and determined battle with cancer, in her home and on her terms. Her family and Catholic faith were her greatest pride. Devoted wife of 70 years to Norbert Zahler. Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Always a worker, she spent many years at the Rogers Catholic Church working as the religious education planner and music coordinator while completing her bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas University. It’s impossible to know how many lives she touched through her work, she was gifted at making connections to young people. She also enjoyed working as a caterer, church organist, waitress, mail carrier, and in a photography studio and on site for school pictures.

Eager for adventure, Betty loved to travel. Her and Norb traveled to Hawaii, Korea, Russia, Europe, and the family camped their way across most of the US. She had a menagerie of animals, horses, dogs, rabbits, and a woodchuck. She loved to feed the deer and birds. She hosted holiday gatherings with up to 70 people in the house. She’d plant sea shells at the beach in Minnesota for the kids to find. Her Easter egg hunts were elaborate affairs. Spending time with her grand and great grandchildren was important to her. She went to their concerts, sporting events, birthday parties, and even went inner tubing behind the boat with them. She enjoyed her weekly coffee meeting with her friends and tried never to miss them.

Preceded in death by parents Clifford and Alvera Martineau, brother Bill and Bob, her in-laws Bernadette and Victor Zahler, , Survived by children, Lynn (Russell) Vetsch, Michael (Christine) Zahler, Greg (Jodi) Zahler, Pat (Tammy) Zahler, Lori (Bryon) Walz, Dan (Sandy) Zahler. She had 17 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren.

Visitation 4-7PM, Wed 12/21/22 at Mary Queen of Peace – St. Martin’s Campus, 21304 Church Ave, Rogers. Mass of Christian Burial 11AM Thurs 12/22/22 at Church, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Interment at St. Martin’s Cemetery in Rogers.

The Mass on Thursday will be Livestreamed at the following link: https://youtu.be/uoq67r5bRrg