A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Funeral services for Betty L. Kolpin, 94, of Aurelia will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at St. John’s Church, rural Peterson, with Lay Pastor David Orthman officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 29, from 5-7 p.m. with the family present at First United Methodist Church in Aurelia. Burial will take place in St. John’s Cemetery. Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Louella Nelson was born on Nov. 18, 1930, in Aurelia, the daughter of Otto Sigurd and Marie (Wilkens) Nelson. Betty attended school in Aurelia, graduating in 1948. She then attended Morningside College to obtain her teaching certificate. On Sept. 3, 1949, Betty was united in marriage to Larry Dean Kolpin in Vermillion, S.D. To this union seven children were born: Lynn, Rick, Craig, Rhonda, Van, Dana and Ryan.
Betty was a school teacher, substitute teacher and farm wife. She enjoyed baking special treats like buns, bread fritters, cinnamon twists and popcorn cake, tending her flower gardens and quilting. She was a devoted member of St. John’s Church. Betty was also involved the church’s Ladies Aid, Afton Women’s Club, card clubs, bowling leagues and the Farm Bureau.
Betty died peacefully surrounded by family on April 26, 2025, at Accura Health Care in Aurelia, where she had been a resident since May 26, 2017.
Preceding Betty in death were her parents; her husband Larry on June 2, 2017; one son, Craig Kolpin; one brother, Kenneth Nelson and his wife Lucille; two sisters and their husbands, Doris and Blair Watson and Arlene and Don Stohror; mother- and father-in-law, Edna and Fred Kolpin; brothers-in-law: Bill Fox, Jerry Drzycimski and Orville Tapper; sister- and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Don Henderson; and one nephew, Graham Kolpin.
Surviving Betty are her six children: Lynn and her husband Tom Suffield of Cedar Park, Texas; Rick and his wife Vicki Kolpin of Aurelia; Rhonda and her husband Don Handy of Aurelia; Van and his wife Julie Kolpin of Eugene, Ore.; Dana and his wife Sherry Kolpin of Wilton; and Ryan and his wife Lori Kolpin of Aurelia. Betty was blessed with 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters: Doloris Tapper of Marcus; Norma Fox of Aurelia; and Shirley Drzycimski of Storm Lake; brother-in-law Fred Kolpin of Las Cruces, N.M.; many nieces and nephews and also other relatives and friends.
