Betty Wendt

Emma “Betty” Wendt, age 94 of Truman, MN passed away Wednesday November 3, 2021 at Heartland Senior Living in Truman. A funeral service will be held Thursday November 11^th, 11AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman with Rev. Timothy Chase officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 9-11AM at the church and burial will take place at Ridgelawn Cemetery. Online condolences can be left at www.zahariafamilyfuneral.com

Betty was born November 16, 1926 to John and Emma (Sandbrink) Lorenzen in Foosland, IL. She was one of six children. They later moved to Chrisman, IL where Betty played on the basketball team and graduated with the class of 1944. After high school she worked in a defense plant in IL assembling Army boats during WWII.  She was married to John Travis for a short time until his passing in July 1946, after returning from the war. On April 8, 1951 she married Gerhardt Wendt. Together they raised their family on the farm in Truman, MN where Betty very much enjoyed gardening flowers, vegetables and planting trees.  She helped out on the farm, sewed clothing for her children and grandchildren, cared for her mother-in-law for 12 years in their home, and raised their children. She worked as a nurse’s aide at the Lutheran Retirement Home for 19 years.

She was never one to complain and always put her family’s needs in front of her own. Above all, her faith is what kept her going and always had her Bible at her side.  She enjoyed the simple things in life like visits and phone calls with family, letters, hugs and smiles from loved ones, as well as the variety of birds at her feeder outside her window.

Left to cherish such wonderful memories are her children; Steven (Mary) of Osceola, WI, Patricia (Alan) Hartt of Junction, TX, Roland (Debra) of Truman, MN, and Randal (Christine) of Camarillo, CA, son-in-law Maurice Ribble, fourteen grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, her brother David (Shirley) Lorenzen of Chrisman, IL as well as many other family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Gerhardt, daughter Lorene “Sharon” Ribble, brother John “Sonny” Lorenzen, and sisters Doris Westfall, Eleanor Adams and Marilyn Bess, granddaughter Brieann Wendt and infant grandson Michael Wendt.

In lieu of flowers, family preference for memorials are to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or School, Martin Luther High School, or charity of choice.

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