Betty Kappel, 95, formerly of the Tower City-Page, ND area, passed away Friday, April 16, 2021 at Bethany on 42nd in Fargo, ND.
Betty was born December 14, 1925 in McVille, ND, to George and Ida (Pederson) Schmeck. She began attending school at Absaraka, ND in the fall of 1931. The family later moved to a farm east of Ayr, ND where she attended rural school from March 1934 through eighth grade. Betty lived with her grandparents while attending high school in McVille. She was a member of the class of 1943. She attended Valley City State Teachers College and taught in the Beaver School District southeast of Page, ND and at Absaraka. During her time at Beaver School, she met her future husband, Paul Kappel, of Oriska, ND.
On June 27, 1948, Betty and Paul were married at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, rural Arthur-Amenia, ND. They lived in Tacoma, Washington until moving to a farm north of Tower City in 1950.
Betty was a long-time member of Minnie Lake Lutheran Church located between Oriska and Pillsbury, ND. She served many years with the congregational ladies aid group. She was also a member of the Weimer Homemakers Club for approximately 65 years.
Betty and Paul retired from farming in 1984 and moved to Tower City, where they attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Paul passed away in 1996 and Betty moved to Fargo in 2015.
Betty enjoyed travel, crafts, and painting. She was a self-taught pianist and served as church pianist for many years at Minnie Lake Lutheran. Most of all, she loved to sew, and achieved a degree of fame for a talent she practiced for more than 80 years. She shared her sewing talents with many local residents as well as others in approximately 40 states.
Survivors include four children, Gary, Pella, IA; Diane (Tom) Heydel, Waukesha, WI; Carol (Sam) Satariano, New Berlin, WI; and James, Jamestown, ND; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one daughter-in-law, Carol (Gary) Kappel; three sisters, Ila Vey Kickertz, Chaffee, ND; Lucille Brorby, Moorhead, MN; and infant
Estelle Dorothy.
The family wishes to express deepest gratitude to friends, neighbors, relatives, and caretakers who provided care and support for Betty for many years.
The funeral will be 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Buffalo Cemetery, Buffalo, ND. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Buffalo Cemetery. Her funeral service will be made available along with her obituary on her tribute page at www.lerudschuldt.com
Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City, ND is assisting Betty’s family with arrangements.