Betty Lou Veldman

Betty Lou (Gerhart) Veldman passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin, with family by her side.

Betty Lou Veldman

She was born at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin on March 22, 1940, to Edward Gerhart Sr. and Beatrice (Clark) Gerhart. Betty was a 1958 graduate of Pacelli Catholic School. During her time there, besides being a good student who excelled in her academics, she worked at Don’s Printing and Don’s Café. In 1959, she met and later married Richard Heiko Veldman, on June 18, 1960. In September of 1960 they went to Key West, Florida to work at his brother, Darvin’s, body shop. They moved back shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis in November 1960.

In 1962 she started her family. She had three children: Dawn Marie, Michael Richard, and Christine Leann. They enjoyed camping and traveling with uncles and aunts to South Dakota and Wisconsin Dells. Her husband Richard was a Hall of Fame Inductee in 2021, making stockcar racing an important part of their family time together.

She attended Rochester Vocational School to become a clerical secretary. For the next 34 years she worked at Albert Lea Hospital as a Health Unit Coordinator, retiring in 2014. After retiring, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, baking goodies and doing crafts.

Her grandchildren were her pride and joy: Hannah, Josh, Alyssa, Samantha, and Sierra. Camping trips and vacations were a big part of the memories she cherished as she watched them grow into young adults. One special gift that she was truly thankful for was Otis, her first great-grandson. She was so proud of how smart, kind, and curious he was, at such an early age. She said his maturity out aged him and called him an old soul. She loved him with all her heart.

Over the past three years, she called Good Samaritan Comforcare her home. The staff, including the nurses and assistants, treated her with the utmost kindness, respect, and care that everyone deserves at this stage in a person’s life. Her interaction with them daily made them part of her extended family. She was so grateful for the exceptional care Good Samaritan provided.

Survivors include her daughter, Dawn Marie; and son, Michael Richard; grandchildren, Josh Hofseth (Luis Sandiero), Hannah Rose (Jacob Brown), Alyssa Wolthoff, Samantha (Stephen) Scray, and Sierra (Lucas) Steffen; great grandson, Otis; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Gerhart, Barb Gerhart, and Virgina Colburn; aunts and uncle, Peggy Clark, Gene and Sally Gerhart; special friend and angel, Jane Riemer; longtime family friends, Pete and Vanna Nielsen, and their daughter, Michelle; special family angel, Randy Norem.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (2015); daughter, Christine (2021); brothers, Chet and Ed Gerhart Jr.; sister, Pat Maly; brother-in-law, Loddy Maly; mother, Beatrice Hull; and father, Ed Gerhart Sr.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Thien Nguyen officiating. Visitation will be held from 1-2 pm at the church. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Arrangements by Clasen-Jordan Mortuary