Betty Clapper

Betty (Weidler) Clapper passed away peacefully on April 26, 2016, at the age of 90. She went to sleep at Seasons Hospice in Rochester and woke up in her heavenly home surrounded, no doubt, by angels and loved ones who had gone on before her.

Betty was born on Aug. 31, 1925, in Drake, N.D. Her parents, Alice and Pete Weidler, owned Pete's Standard Service Station and Café in Balfour, N.D. Betty worked in the café until she graduated from Balfour High School. Following graduation, she taught 1 through 8 grades in Adams, N.D.

Betty had to walk one mile to and from school each day - that's probably when her love for walking began. During her time as a teacher, Betty and a friend saved money to move to Washington State, where they worked at a daycare for children whose parents were working in factories during World War II.

After the war ended, Betty moved to Minot, N.D., and worked at a department store and later at Minot State College. She met the love of her life, Allan Clapper, on a blind date. They were married on Aug. 23, 1946, and lived in Minot until they retired to Apache Junction, Ariz., in 1990. Allan passed away in January 1992.

In November 2013, Betty moved to Rochester, where she resided at Shorewood Senior Campus. She was involved in many activities while living there, including the Walking Club, various exercise programs, cards, ghost hunting, a "YA YA" group, dancing, style shows, happy hours, and more. She had many friends at Shorewood and loved spending time with them. Betty was a fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. She attended a couple of Twins games in the new stadium - one of her goals when she moved to Minnesota.

Betty and Allan were blessed with three children, Jan (Irene) Clapper, Jay (Susan) Clapper, and Jill (Gary) Hallman. She thought the world of her grandchildren, Chad Clapper, Tanya Cox, Leah Siple, Matthew Hallman, Sommer Voyna and Christa Kline, and great-grandchildren, Jordyn, Robert, Matalyn, Aubrey, Aidyn, Alivya, Isabel, Owen, Jeremy and Jayla. She loved spending time with them and telling her friends stories about them.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Allan, parents, Alice and Peter Weidler, brothers, Myrl and Lyle Weidler, sister, Dorothy Ganje, as well as many friends and relatives.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at Shorewood Place on Saturday, April 30, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Burial will take place at a later date at Rosehill Cemetery in Minot, N.D.

The family prefers memorials be directed to Seasons Hospice in Rochester.