Betty Darlene Storlie, 86, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Harmony Place in Harmony, Minn.
Betty was born on the family farm just south of Harmony on December 13, 1936, to Frances (Olsen) and Leonard Stoskopf. She was the oldest of two children.
In 1954 she graduated from Canton High School. Betty recalled being a member of the first senior class to take an overnight trip to Chicago, which was a big event at that time. After graduation she attended Luther College for a year before taking a job at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
While working at Mayo Clinic she went on a blind double date with her cousin and met Norris Storlie. They were engaged on Norris’s birthday, July 13, and married on October 19, 1957. They lived and farmed together for 60 years.
Betty milked on the family farm north of Henrytown until the herd of cows was sold during the farm buyout program in 1986. She also raised chickens and sold eggs in addition to supporting the farm in numerous ways.
Betty was known as a kind soul with a door that was always open to neighbors and friends. She enjoyed making dinner for all of those who worked on the farm and caring for the neighborhood children. She was a 4-H leader, Sunday School superintendent in Henrytown, and a member who was actively involved in circle at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony. She gladly served and opened her home to others as there were friends without family she supported and a cousin, Cheryl, who lived with them through her teenage years. Betty was known for her homemade angel food cakes (among many other goodies) and a coffee pot that never seemed to be empty.
They were blessed with three children: Bonnie (Vance) Haugen, Canton, Minn., Mark (Juliet) Storlie, Postville, Iowa, and Cherise (Øyvind) Kristoffersen, Stjørdal, Norway; six grandchildren: Inga, Olaf (Corinne) and Thor (Sarah) Haugen and Saundra, Niclas, and Sarah Kristoffersen. There are eight great-grandchildren: Norris, Sully, Leyland, Aurora, Minnie, Wulf, Cora and Marion. Betty has one brother, Bob Stoskopf of Mabel, Minn.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Norris and her parents. There is nothing more beautiful than a kind soul and Betty touched many with her kindness.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Harmony Greenfield Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. A visitation will be at the church from 4-7 on Friday. Following the funeral, a time of fellowship with lunch will be held. The family of Betty looks forward to seeing you and hearing your stories of her to celebrate her life.
A special thank you to Harmony Place for the care given to Betty over the past five years and to Moments Hospice in her final days.
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