Betty Walter

Betty Lou (Jones) Walter was born in Osakis, Minnesota on August 25, 1929.  She was the youngest of the large family of Harry and Mary Faith (Bennett) Jones.  Betty passed away on December 26, 2020 at the age of 91 years at her residence at Grand Arbor.

Betty attended Osakis Public school and completed her senior year at Wessington Springs College and High School in South Dakota. Betty married Stanley Walter on March 6, 1947.  Betty and Stanley adopted two daughters, Anita Marie and Brenda Lou.

Betty accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at a young age and lived her life to please Him.  She was a member of First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Minnesota. At First Baptist Church she served as a Youth Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer for women’s groups. In recent years Betty attended Grace Church of Alexandria, Minnesota where she was involved in women’s ministries and quilting for missions.

Betty was a very smart and talented Accountant/Bookkeeper and worked in this role in a variety of office settings throughout her career. She was Deputy City Clerk for the City of Alexandria for 24 years and retired from this position in 1992.

She was an amazing cook. She loved to fish on Lake Osakis and all of the beautiful Alexandria lakes. She knew how to filet a fish with the skill of a master chef. Her Sunfish and hash brown dinners were a family favorite. She knew this was her grandson’s favorite and somehow always managed to have fresh Sunfish available when he came to stay for the weekend.

In addition to managing a full-time, professional career, a family and church activities she also found time for hobbies. Her garden was planned meticulously during the winter. Her gardening skills were the envy of many gardeners. After cutting fresh flowers from her garden, she created beautiful arrangements that she gave to family and friends. She also created numerous, seasonal artificial flower arrangements to decorate our home for holidays.

She taught us the importance of giving to others outside of our family by her example of giving simple gifts to others that always brought a smile. She always had a fresh cup of coffee and delicious baked goods to share with anyone that stopped by for a surprise visit. Many treasured family memories were spent on our back porch with a cup of coffee, her wonderful baked goods and a view of her garden. She was very loved by her husband, children, grandson, many friends and extended family. She will be missed.

The family thanks all who made her smile and took such wonderful care of her in her final years as a resident of Grand Arbor.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Stanley Walter, her father and mother, Harry and Mary Faith Jones; sisters Margorie (Jones) Adams, Marcela (Jones) Harsh, Marion (Jones) Rotondi, and brothers Glen Jones and Kenny Jones. She is survived by sister Marlou (Jones) Adams, and brother Bob Jones; daughter Anita (Walter) Whitaker, husband Kevin Whitaker, and grandson Justin Whitaker; and daughter Brenda Walter; as well as many nieces and nephews

A private graveside service took place on Monday, December 28, 2020, at Kinkead Cemetery.