Betty Ann Koppen, daughter of Kermit Charles and Anna Rose (Heywood) Koppen, was born on January 26, 1936 at home in rural Jackson County, MN. She attended the District 100 school in Christiania Township through the eighth grade and graduated from Jackson High School in 1954. After graduating, she worked in Jackson at the "Halloran Home", Minnesota Egg, and Naturals. She was baptized on June 19, 1944 and confirmed on June 13, 1951 at Hauges Lutheran Church in Belmont Township. On September 21, 1957, Betty and Curtis Wayne Elness were united in marriage at Hauges. They lived in Jackson and rural Windom. The two moved back to Jackson County in 1967. In December of 1973, they moved to the farm where she lived out the rest of her life. For all but eight years, she lived in Christiania Township. Curtis and Betty started farming and milking cows in 1966. On November 6, 1979, Curtis passed away. Betty continued to milk her cows until 1993. She worked at Toro from January 1993 until she retired in February 2004. During that time, she also worked at Cottonwood County DAC. After retirement, she worked at MinnTex. Betty was an active member of American Lutheran Church in Windom, where she was involved with many activities, including being a Sunday School teacher for 30 years. She had been a member of the Good Cheer Club since the 1960s, in addition to being involved with the Garden and Birthday Clubs. She grew up as a member of the Bergen Beavers 4-H club and later was an adult leader with the Delafield Diggers for 40 years. She is survived by her brother Kendall (Leona) Koppen, Jackson, MN, her sister Doreen (Jim) Jorgensen, Windom, MN, her sister-in-law Anita Elness, Windom, MN and her brother-in-law Jerry Vought, Wilder, MN. She is also survived by her three children: Jean (Robert) Flatgard, Arlington, SD, Sandra (Perry) Olson, Windom, MN, and Kelvin (Mauri) Elness, Winifred, MT. She was blessed with nine grandchildren: Audrey Flatgard, Eli Pohlman, Ike (Megan) Pohlman, Ian (Jenna) Flatgard, Josie Flatgard, Jorden DeHaven, Emma Pohlman, Zoe Pohlman, Laynee Elness, and one great grandchild: Amelia Pohlman. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Beverly and brother-in-law Russell.