Betty M. Ziemke

Betty M. Ziemke age 81 of Tracy, MN died Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at the Prairie View Health Care Center in Tracy. Services will be 11:00 AM Friday, September 4, 2009 at Tracy Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 PM Thursday, September 3, 2009 at Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Betty Mae Ziemke was born June 13, 1928 to Robert and Palma (Nybo) Thompson in Tracy, MN, Lyon County. She was baptized on September 2, 1928 and confirmed on June 13, 1943 in Tracy. She attended Tracy Public Schools and graduated from Tracy High School. In 1947 Betty married Arlo Ziemke at Faith Lutheran Church and they made their home in Tracy. She worked at the Red Rooster Café and Tracy Hopital as a cook for many years. After her husbands death in 1974 she went to work for the Schott Corporation in Marshall, MN until she retired in 1991. Both her church and community were very important to her. Betty was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church and active in Hope Circle, WELCA and loved to take part in the ladies Do-Days at church, especially quilting. She was a charter member of the Tracy Eagles Club, member of the Hoe and Hope Garden Club, past president of the Tracy American Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Tracy VFW Auxiliary. Betty was also an avid Minnesota Twins Fan, enjoyed knitting, crocheting, quilting, ceramics, playing cards, family gatherings at the lake cabin, and breaking into song in every situation. Though there was much pain and suffering, and though there is strong grief, her memory is already cherished, for her unique, strong, pleasant, and humorous personality and spirit, continually brought happiness and fun to her family, friends, and all those who got to know her in the last few months of her life. It is without a doubt to all, that her Christian faith extended her life beyond that given her. In June of 2009 Betty became a resident of the Prairie View Health Care Center in Tracy, where she entered into rest Wednesday, August 29, 2009 at the age of 81. Betty is survived by her three daughters, Janet Hill of Faribault, MN, Koreen (Bill Roemer) Ziemke of Tracy, MN, Katherine Ziemke of Mound, MN; three sons, David (Jenny Bruss) Ziemke of Tracy, MN, William (Kris) Ziemke of Rosemount, MN and Arlo Jr. (Julie) Ziemke of Morristown, MN; eighteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; three brothers, Jim (Rosemary) Thompson of Colman, SD, Ken (Jan) Ross of Colman, SD and Gary (Sally) Ross of Bozeman, MT; two sisters, Sharon (Vern) Jaacks of Colman, SD and Lucy (Francis) Wendell of Egan, SD; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Her parents, husband, Arlo, infant son, Darlo, two sons, Clayton and Robert, son-in-law, Jim Hill, and three brothers, Ron Ross, Richard Ross and John (Edith) Ross preceded her in death.