Betty Lou Kruse

Betty Lou Kruse, age 85, formerly from Wells and currently of Mankato, died Saturday, June 6, 2020 at The Pillars of Mankato.

A private funeral service will be held at Mankato Mortuary and burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in St. Clair. Please share an online condolence with Betty’s family at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Memorials are preferred to Open Doors Methodist Church, 595 First Avenue SW, Wells, MN 56097.

Betty was born May 11, 1935 in Rapid City, SD and was raised in St. Clair by Merton and Myrtle (McWhortor) Juliar. She graduated from St. Clair High School and worked at St. Clair State Bank and American State Bank. Betty was united in marriage to Lawrence Kruse on April 5, 1958 at the United Brethren Church in St. Clair and they were blessed with three children. She and Larry were members of Open Doors United Methodist Church in Wells before moving to Mankato in 2019.

Betty enjoyed hosting and entertaining, playing bridge, spending time at their lake cabin, and being active in the women’s church organizations. A devoted mother, she loved her family dearly and adored her ten grandchildren.

Betty is survived by her husband of 62 years, Larry Kruse of Mankato; children, Robert (Mary Pat) Kruse of rural St. Clair, Karen Conrad (David) Metcalfe of Southlake, TX, and James (Carol) Kruse of Delano, MN; grandchildren, Lucas Kruse, Levi Conrad, Ryan Kruse, Peter Kruse, Andrew Kruse, MacKenzie Kruse, Aaron Kruse, Lily Kruse, Patrick Kruse, and Alex Kruse; and brother, Donavan Juliar of Golden Valley, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dennis Juliar; sisters-in-law, Barbara and Charlotte Juliar; and son-in-law, Tim Conrad.

The family would like to express a special thanks to The Pillars of Mankato, memory care and the St. Croix Hospice.