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Betty Luise Schwarzenbach, the daughter of John and Frieda (Kardell) Brehmer, was born on July 28, 1931 in Harris, IA. She moved with her parents to May City, IA and was baptized in 1931 and confirmed in 1944 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City. In 1945 they moved to Avoca, MN. Betty attended country school, graduating the 8th grade at the courthouse in Sibley, IA, then her freshman year at Hartley High School and graduated from Slayton High School in 1948. She was employed at the Citizen’s State Bank in Fulda until her marriage to Robert C. Holinka on May 16, 1950. After their marriage they farmed in the Fulda and Avoca areas. Betty moved into Fulda after Robert passed away suddenly in September of 1966. She was employed in several positions in Fulda, Slayton and Worthington while raising her 5 children. She moved to Worthington in 1977 and acted as Executive Director of the Atrium High Rise until 1982. She worked as a legal secretary at Mork, Darling and Hagemann Law Office and Lucht Law office until her retirement. On December 27, 1981, Betty married Norman Schwarzenbach in Lake Park, IA and lived on the family farm northwest of Lake Park until 1991 when they built a home in Worthington. Betty passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, MN at the age of 92. She served as president of St. Rose of Lima Alter Society; president and flag carrier for the Donald E. Ewy Legion Auxiliary at Avoca and was a member of the Friendship Club. Survivors include her, 2 sons, Thomas Holinka of Worthington, MN and David (Gail) Holinka of Worthington, MN; 2 daughters, Diane Sanow of Fulda, MN and Barbara Weibel of Slayton, MN; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; special “granddaughter”, Andrea and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, infant sister, husbands, 2 sons, James Holinka and Terry Schwarzenbach, daughter-in-law, Linda Holinka, 3 sons-in-law, Daniel Staples, Eugene “Pudge” Sanow and Randal Weibel, granddaughter, Kelsey Nims, brother, William Brehmer and 3 sisters, Elsie (Franklin) LaHeist, Marie (Frank) Dass and Lucille (John “Jack”) Larson.
A private family service will be held at the Totzke Funeral Home Slayton, MN. Honorary pallbearers are Jenny and Matt, Willie and Tiffany, Robert and Sandy, Heath and Angie, Justin, Michelle, Kory and Ashlie, Shawn, Jessica and Alex and Jordan. Interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery Avoca, MN. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Sunset Cottage in Worthington.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 4 to 6 PM at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton. Send condolences online at www.totzkefuneralhome. com.
