Betty Jean Gatzlaff

Betty Jean (Belter) Gatzlaff, 98, a long-time resident of Altura, MN, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, at Lewiston Senior Living. Betty was born on March 18, 1928, on a farm just south of Lewiston, MN to Edward and Dora (Schafer Morcomb) Belter. She grew up on her family’s farm located on the bluffs between Altura and Elba, now part of Whitewater State Park, and graduated in 1945 from Lewiston High School.

Betty was united in marriage to her beloved husband, Kermit Gatzlaff, on October 18, 1947, in Altura, where they raised three children. Together, they shared a life deeply rooted in the Altura community where they operated the family’s landmark business, Altura Hardware, from 1948 to 1990 alongside Kermit’s brother John and his wife Betty.

After graduation Betty worked briefly at Liecht Press in Winona and then took a position at Altura Rex Turkeys where she learned her bookkeeping skills (and was known to check the adding machine results by hand). This experience and skillset led her to jobs at the Altura Creamery, Altura State Bank, and eventually to the Altura Post Office where she served as Postmaster from 1985 until her retirement in 1990.

She is survived by her two sons Ron Gatzlaff, Holmen, WI; Dean (Kathy) Gatzlaff, Tallahassee, FL; and a daughter Jodi (Bruce) Heim, Lewiston, MN; 10 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and her extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her mother and father, her sister, Gladys (Stan) Morcomb Willoughby; her four brothers, Ervin (Jean) Belter, Delmer (Ruth) Belter, Lloyd (Betty) Belter, and Harvey Belter; a daughter-in-law, Patrice Gatzlaff; a grandson, Kevin Gatzlaff; a great granddaughter, Aria Gatzlaff; and six children who died at or just after birth as the result of Rh-factor complications prior to the availability of RhoGAM.

Betty will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her quiet strength and resilience, her sharp mind, her “food heaven” desserts, and her enduring commitment to her church and community. Her legacy lives on through the family she nurtured and the local history she helped shape.

The family thanks all who visited her in Lewiston, as well as the compassionate caregivers at Lewiston Senior Living and Winona Hospice.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Our Savior’s Moravian Church in Altura at 11 a.m. Visitation will begin an hour prior to the service. Betty will be laid to rest next to her husband at Hebron Moravian Cemetery near Altura.

Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service – Lewiston is assisting the family with arrangements. www.hofffuneral.com.