Betty Knuepfer

1924 - 2025

Betty Mae (Landin) Knuepfer, 101, of Stuart and formerly of Mason City, passed away peacefully at the Stuart Community Care Center on September 28, 2025. She was born on March 14, 1924 in Evanston, Illinois, to Carl William and Maria Francesca (Welter) Landin. She graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1942.

Shortly after graduation, she began work as a coder/checker at the A.C. Nielsen Company. It was there she met the love of her life, Russell Knuepfer, after he returned from his service during World War II. They were married on May 18, 1946. They became parents to three perfect children, Bruce Alan, Patricia Lynne, and Gary Russell. Betty was a homemaker who put all her energy and love into raising her children.

The couple moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and then to Mason City, Iowa, following the promotions Russell received. Following Russell's retirement in 1986, they spent half of every year being snowbirds in Bradenton, Florida. Their marriage lasted more than 52 years, until Russell's death in 1999.

Betty loved spending time with her children and later her grandchildren, Brian and Erin, and still later her great-grandchildren, Gavin and Ethan. She also had many other interests. She was an avid reader, golfer, and bridge player. She volunteered at St. Joseph's Hospital in Mason City for over 30 years. Betty was a former member of the League of Women Voters and the Mason City Country Club, as well as a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She supported the MacNider Museum and Music Man Square in Mason City, as well as many other non-profit organizations and charities. Betty loved to travel. She and Russell went to Cuba, Tahiti, Alaska, and the Bahamas, as well as trips to the southeast, southwest, and western United States. She and her daughter, Pat, took two amazing trips together, to Europe and to Hawaii. There was also a very special trip to Spain with Pat and granddaughter Erin, three generations traveling together.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Russell; her parents, Carl and Mae Landin; her brother, William Landin; sister-in-law Ann Landin, and daughter-in-law Trudy Knuepfer. She is survived by her children: Bruce Knuepfer of Green Bay, WI, Pat (John) Pettinger of Adair, IA, and Gary (Kate Romberg) Knuepfer of Fairbanks, AK; grandchildren Brian Pettinger and Erin (Jonathan) Stensvaag; great grandsons Gavin and Ethan Stensvaag; step-grandchildren David Stillings and Tracy (Kelly) Coey; niece Teri Martinez and nephew Bill Landin.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair, with visitation preceding the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Luncheon at the church will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to IPTV or the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Funeral services are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair.