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BORN
1940
DIED
2025
Betty Goplen Obituary
Betty was born in Brainerd, Minnesota on August 7th, 1940, to Russell R. and Clara (Petersen) Wickham. After graduating high school in 1958, she started a career in institutional food service working at St. Joseph Hospital in Brainerd, until 1965 when she married Dennis L. Goplen of Onamia. The newlyweds moved to Minneapolis, eventually building a home in Waconia, where they welcomed Dennis R. and Dan into their family. Once the boys were old enough, she took a job as an office manager for a local hardware and plumbing store. 1980 found the family moving back to Mille Lacs Lake as Dennis L. had taken an early retirement from Control Data. Betty resumed her career in food service as the dietary manager for the Mille Lacs Health System and Nursing Home. During retirement, she spent her time as a part-time daycare for her granddaughters; providing a shuttle service and serving as a meal planner for them. In the in-between moments, she enjoyed reading, needle work, and scrounging whatever antique stores she ran across for must-have treasures.
She will be missed by her family, friends, and especially those that knew she was always good for a cup of coffee and a cookie.
Betty is survived by her two sons, Dennis R. (Coleen) Goplen of Onamia and Daniel P. (Amy) Goplen of Brook Park; three granddaughters, Kiana (Nathan) Lease of Foley, Kaylie (Zachery) Kieffer of Hillman, and Charlie Rea of Isle; six great-grandchildren; her brother, Russell J. Wickham; her sister-in-law, Meredith (Robert) O'Brien; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Donna, and her husband of 41 years, Dennis L. Goplen.
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