Betty Johnson

Betty Alice Fritze Johnson (nee Epland) of Hackensack, passed away peacefully at Birchview Gardens in Walker Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, after 87 blessed years.

Betty was born June 8, 1938, to Berger and Avis Epland in Scarville, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Emmons Lutheran Church. She graduated from Emmons High School in 1956.

A friend introduced Betty to Delmar Fritze and they were married on May 4,1957. They farmed near Owatonna for a few years and then moved to Mapleton for Del's work. Ten years later they decided to pursue their dream of operating a resort on a lake in Minnesota. They bought Brite-Vue Resort on Stony Lake near Hackensack in 1971 and ran the resort for nine years.

After the resort, she worked as a secretary at a real estate office in Hackensack and a church secretary in Walker. She also supported her family and helped others by babysitting, mending, and serving the homebound with Home Instead.

Betty married Robert Johnson about a decade after Del's passing on Sept. 29, 2018, at The Lighthouse Evangelical Free Church in Hackensack. She appreciated the love and companionship Bob brought to her life.

Betty's favorite hobbies were sewing, knitting, crocheting and playing the organ. She was involved in Christian women's organizations including Aglow, taught Sunday school at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Hackensack, encouraged other women at Bible studies and started a widow's group after Del passed. She often found the lonely or overlooked and drew them in with gentle kindness. She will be remembered for her strong faith and love of family and friends.

Betty is survived by her husband, Bob; children Jeanne (Paul) Herold and Loren (Angie) Fritze; daughter-in-law Debbie Fritze; honorary son Larry (Debbie) Overcash; stepchildren Scott (Karen) Johnson, Ted (Deanne) Johnson, Andy (Pam) Johnson; grandchildren Jamie, Joseph, Jonathan, Maddy, Andrew, Lilianna (Mateusz) Lakomski, Jedidiah, Abbigail, Elizabeth; step-grandchildren Bob (Kendra) Johnson, Jessica (Cody) Fandel, Courtney (Jeremy) Mantell, Nicole, Van, Callahan; many great-grandchildren; brother Jerry (Lois) Epland; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather Tennys Oyer; sister Phyllis; husband, Del; and son (Larry).

Funeral services are noon Feb. 13 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Walker with visitation at 11 a.m., with Pastor Mark Widman officiating.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Pine River.