Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Hauser

The following obituary was written in October, 1997 by Betty’s late husband, Bill Hauser.

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Hauser, 90 years young, of Mankato Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at Keystone Community Services in Mankato. 

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, October 26 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Mankato.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church.  Her remains will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery alongside her beloved husband, Bill.  Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Betty was born in St. Paul, MN to William and Helen Bolles on August 1, 1926 and started school in a one-room country school house and finished her secondary education in Cresco, IA.

Betty attended Macalester College with academic and music scholarships.  She graduated in 1948 with a major in sociology and minor in music.  Betty also attended graduate school at Mankato State University, worked as a realtor and at M.S.U.’s bookstore.

Betty married her college sweetheart, H. W.  “Bill” Hauser, on March 27, 1948.

Betty received National honors and recognition playing the violin. She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed playing a number of stringed instruments. 

At the First Presbyterian Church in Mankato, she sang in the choir, played in the bell choir, and taught Sunday school.  She was a member and served on the board of the Mankato Symphony Guild and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and PEO.

Betty reserved her greatest time and passion for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She treated each one as a very special person.  She taught all of her children and grandchildren to enjoy music. Betty’s greatest gift was her servant’s heart.  She demonstrated by her compassion and caring for others.  She always reached out to others with a hug, a smile, and kind words to lift them up.

Betty is survived by her children, Kari and her husband Dr. Dan Southard of Fort Worth, TX; Jennifer “Joey”  and her husband Paul Otto of Shakopee, MN; Jayne and her husband Gregg Struss of Brainerd, MN; David and his wife Terri of Maple Grove, MN;  12 grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and brother, Charles Miller of Cresco IA.  Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Hauser; brother, Robert Miller; and her parents.