Funeral services for Betty Elaine Tufte, 86, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Ryan Martens will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

Betty died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.

Betty Elaine Tufte was born on Aug. 31, 1921, to Harry and Margaret (Hawkins) Smith in Bancroft Township in Freeborn County. She was a lifelong resident of the Albert Lea area. Betty graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1939. She married Ben S. Tufte on Oct. 5, 1940, in Hampton, Iowa. The couple made their home in Albert Lea until retirement. At that time, they enjoyed spending winters in Corpus Cristi, Texas, and summers in Longville for 25 years. The couple moved back to Albert Lea in 2004. Betty was a member of the Church of Christ and the Eagles Auxiliary. She was active as secretary of the Eagles Club. Betty liked crocheting and particularly enjoyed embroidery.

Survivors include her husband, Ben of Albert Lea; children, Judy (Ken) Bringgold of South St. Paul, Mary (Larry) Lahs of Albert Lea, Shari (Dwain) Staude of Alden; grandchildren, Wally Bringgold, Larry Lahs, Jr., Ron Bringgold, Laura Delano, Karen Hershey, Sara Anderson, Linda Meza, Jim Bringgold, John Bryand Jr., and Joshua Bryand; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Bob (Noni) Smith of West Covina, Calif., and Gary (Rita) Smith of Manly, Iowa; sisters, Barb (Rodney) Halverson of Kiester, and Mona (Cy) Pollema of Canyon City, Colo.; aunt, Ruth Clough of Peoria, Ariz.; sisters-in-law, Sadie Parks of Hillsdale, Mich., Jeanette Zobel of St. Cloud, and Arlene Smith of Albert Lea; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Gerald in infancy and Donald and Jack.