BETTY LUETKEHOELTER -

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BETTY LUETKEHOELTER 1926 - 2008 Betty was born on March 17, 1926 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Willis Elwood Edwards and Margaret Brierly. She graduated from McCaskey High School, Lancaster, PA in 1944, and was president of her class. In 1948 she received her Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA with English and Education majors. She taught highschool English in Lancaster and Manheim Township, PA from 1948 to 1953 and then became Education Director for United Lutheran Church Women (ULCW), an international women's organization. In 1958 she was graduated by Syracuse University with a Master of Arts degree in Journalism. On a trip to Saskatoon, representing the ULCW at the Western Canada ULCW convention, she met Lee Luetkehoelter, who was being ordained at the Synod Convention in the same city at the same time. Four years later Betty and Lee were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA. Two sons were born to this couple: David in 1960 and Jonathan in 1962. David is a wine merchant in Calgary and Jonathan is a medical doctor. Jonathan and Billie live in downtown Toronto. Betty served as resource person for community outreach and women's work for Grace United Church in Edmonton from 1972 to 1976. From 1978 to 1991 she was an instructor (writing skills) in the Learning Centre of the University of Manitoba. In 1995 she suffered a small stroke and in subsequent years more of these occurred so that by 2005 she had lost the use of both of her legs, and by 2007, the use of both of her arms. Toward the end of 2007 she also lost her speech. With the help of Home Care she was able to live at home. A special thank you needs to be expressed to the Case Coordinator Leona Schroeder, and angels like Frieda, Sheila, Pat, Stephanie, Esther, Josie and many others who made a difficult situation bearable with expert care and good cheer. Betty was wonderfully supported by friends who arrived regularly with meals and the Luetkehoelters rarely left church without some delicacies, augmenting Lee's limited cooking skills. Messiah Lutheran Church's Pastor Carol Janke, and the members provided a very caring community which strengthened her faith and gave her much needed comfort and strength. On Saturday, October 4, she suffered another stroke and died at the Middlechurch Home at 5:40 p.m. A viewing will be held at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Avenue (entrance on Aubrey Street) on Thursday, October 9 at 8:00 p.m. The committal will take place at Chapel Lawn Memorial Garden on Friday, October 10, 1:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of her life at Messiah Lutheran Church, 400 Rouge Road at 2:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served following this worship service. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to the Messiah Lutheran Church Restoration Fund, 400 Rouge Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3K 1K3 or to the Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1141 Seminary Cres., Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X3. God has given us a wondrous gift in Betty and we know that she is now in God's care. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 09, 2008