Betty Rahrlien

Betty Rahrlien, age 91, of Graceville, MN, passed away on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at Essentia Health – Grace Home.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home Chapel in Graceville. Visitation with her family will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Pastor Lynn Thomas will officiate the celebration and inurnment will be at Frog Lake Cemetery near Alberta, MN.

The celebration will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Betty Ann (Hruby) Rahrlien was born the eldest of four daughters on November 7, 1930, in Litchfield, IL, to Herbert and Anna (Richardson) Hruby. Betty was baptized on April 21, 1935, at the First Congregational Church in Hancock, MN. She attended school in Hancock from first grade to ninth grade and in May of 1945, the family moved to Graceville where she attended grade ten through twelve. Betty graduated from Graceville High School with the Class of 1948.

In 1949, Betty met the love of her life, Marvin Rahrlien, at a dance. On December 10, 1950, the two were united in marriage at the Congregational Church in Graceville. Betty and Marvin made their first home on a farm place north of Chokio, moving to a farm south of Johnson, then to a farm east of Graceville. They finally settled into a home next to the school in Graceville where they raised their three children: Terry, Patricia, and Susan. In 2014, Betty and Marvin moved to Grace Village Retirement Community and in December of 2021, they moved into Grace Home.

Betty loved people and enjoyed visiting. She was employed at Mador Pharmacy, Larson Pharmacy and Grace Home in Graceville. Betty had strong faith and she was a member of the Congregational Church. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, joining in 1962.

Working hard to raise her family, Betty was an amazing cook and baker; always making fresh goodies on Thursdays. She was also an avid seamstress. Betty enjoyed spending time at the lake and attending sporting events in the area and especially loved when she could watch her grandchildren play. She was a wonderful bowler, earning many awards such as league championships and even earned her 600 Series Award on March 21, 1983. Betty was known for her accessorizing and lipstick. She had a plethora of jewelry and was always coordinating her jewelry with her outfits.

Left to cherish Betty’s memory are her husband of almost 72 years, Marvin Rahrlien of Graceville, MN; son, Terry (Audrey) Rahrlien of Graceville, MN; daughters: Patricia A. (Herman) Wencel of Graceville, MN; and Susan (Wayne) Westerman of Chokio, MN; eight grandchildren: Cassandra Rahrlien of Graceville, MN; Lee (Kristina) Rahrlien of Lake Jackson, TX; Ann (Zac) Malmberg of Roseville, MN; Phillip (Tricia)  Wencel of  Graceville, MN; Matt (Tami) Westerman of Chokio, MN; Luke (Tarah) Westerman of Oak Creek, CO; Chris (Kaitlin) Westerman of Morris,  MN; and Jeremy (Molly) Westerman of Chokio, MN; 15 great-grandchildren: sisters: Beverly Heck of Roseville, MN; and Mary Jane (Leon) McCollough of Cedar City, UT; step-brother, Jim Linneberg of Minneapolis, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and step-mother, Molly Hruby; sister, Helen Needham; and great-grandson, Saul Westerman.

The family suggests memorials be given to the Graceville Legion Auxiliary #297 or Grace Home.