Betty Volker

Betty L. Volker age 94 of Fredericksburg, IA, died Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner, IA. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2019, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg with Rev. Ronnie Koch officiating. Interment will be held in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg with Adam Volker, Josh Volker, Joe Mohlis, Matt Volker, Bill Volker and Jason Volker serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are John, Joel, Nick, Michael, Tami, Jennifer, Jenni, Beth, Amanda, Brent, Erica, and Jon. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 20, 2019, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Betty Volker was born December 10, 1924, to Arthur and Ella Quandt on their family farm in Fayette County. She was the oldest of eight children, and in addition to attending country school, she helped her parents with her younger siblings. After graduating from Fayette High School, she received her teaching certificate from what was then known as Upper Iowa College and taught for two years at Spring Fountain, a Lutheran school in Bremer County. On June 10, 1947, she married the love of her life, Elmer Volker, in Fayette, and their family steadily grew with the births of Delbert, Carolyn, Robert, Richard, Rebecca, and Mark. Mom was the disciplinarian of the household, but she also took great pride in being a farm wife and was an avid gardener, canner, baker, and cook. Betty was also a talented knitter and crocheted. Betty was a creative person, and she loved trying new craft ideas. She also was a “fixer.” She was an expert “patcher” and if something needed to be “re-hemmed,” Betty was your go-to person. The Volker's farmed both in rural Sumner and rural Fredericksburg before they moved into Fredericksburg in 1978. Betty’s family grew exponentially, and she and Elmer were proud grandparents to 20 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren. Betty and Elmer enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren at their cabin on the Mississippi River, where the kids learned how to fish, bake and cook from two special people. Eight years ago, Betty reluctantly moved into Whispering Willows Assisted Living in Fredericksburg, but she quickly adapted to her new life and made many friends. Except for four hip replacements, she was remarkably healthy for much of her life. She was a proud member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, and she was also an active member of the LWML, a Lutheran women’s group in which she held numerous offices. Her life was well-lived and she will be missed by many. Betty is survived by three sons, Robert (Pat) Volker of Colorado Springs, CO, Richard (Jo) Volker of Rochester, MN, Mark (JoAnn) Volker of Fredericksburg, IA; two daughters, Carolyn (Duane) Mohils of Tripoli, IA, Rebecca Lingren of Glenwood, IA; eighteen grandchildren, forty-four great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; daughter-in-law, Carol (Delmar) Volker-Mutschler of Sumner, IA; two brothers, Paul (Marian) Quandt of Waterloo, IA, Kenneth Quandt of Maynard, IA; three sisters, Idella Klein of Hampton, IA, Lauretta Pape of West Union, IA, JoAnn (Russell) Treptow of Maynard, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer (2007); son, Delbert (2005); two grandsons, Lucas Volker (2012), Jacob Volker (2006); two brothers, Gehlen Quandt (2007), Donald Quandt (2016); great-granddaughter, Brogan Marie Volker (2005).