Betty Jane Beenken

Betty Jane (Moore) Beenken, age 96 of Mankato, formerly of Truman and Elmore, passed away Wednesday January 17, 2024 at the Pillar’s of Mankato. 

Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 21, 2024, at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary. Visitation will be held one hour before the 2:00 p.m., service Sunday. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery in Elmore, MN.

Betty was born April 19, 1927, to George and Velma (Garnes) Moore in Boone, Iowa. Betty graduated high school in 1945 from Blue Earth. Graduated in 1946 from Normal Teacher Training in Blue Earth, MN. Renewed her Teacher Certificate by taking summer school at the Mankato Normal School. Starting in 1946 for four years taught in a one room schoolhouse near Elmore. While there she met “Benk” Vernon and were married on December 17, 1949, and together they have three children, Judy, Bruce and Sue.

Betty’s cooking was beyond words, she also had a knack for sewing, crafting, decorating, and gardening. She loved her Vikings!

Betty is survived by her three children, Judith (Darrel) Laubach, Bruce (Renée) Beenken, and Susan Beenken; four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; sister’s, Georgia Wilson and Florence Grams.

Preceded in death by her parents, husband, Benk in 1991; brother, Richard Moore; sister’s, Helen Latzke and Joyce Possin.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by

Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.