Betty Haats

Betty Lou Haats, age 80, of Willmar, died Thursday afternoon, December 25, at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, at the Willmar Christian Reformed Church. Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, January 2, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Rice Hospice are preferred. www.petersonbrothers.com.
Betty Lou Haats was born on June 5, 1934, in Lone Tree Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota, the daughter of Clarence and Tillie (Fokken) Taatjes. She grew up in the Raymond community, graduated from Raymond High School and attended Calvin College and X-Ray Technician training in Minneapolis. Betty was united in marriage to Lawrence Haats and they lived in Willmar. Betty was employed at the WRTC as an X-Ray Technician for over 34 years, retiring in 1999. She was also a Realtor in the Willmar area. Betty was a member of the Willmar Christian Reformed Church. She was involved in the Friesen Historical Society, League of Women Voters, Kandiyohi Community Corrections Advisory Board and the Kandiyohi Quilters. She enjoyed knitting, reading, quilting, gardening, sewing, golfing, attending theater and traveling with family and friends.
She is survived by two sons, Scott (and Toni) Poupore-Haats of Duluth and Stuart (and Melodie) Haats of New London; three grandchildren, Christin (and Wes) Rutgers, Justin (and Anna) Haats and Stephanie Haats; three great grandchildren, Taylor Rutgers, Paycen Rutgers and Griffin Haats; two brothers, Denis (and Hazel) Taatjes of South Carolina, and Clarence (and Sharon) Taatjes of Arizona; her sister, Audrey Taatjes of St. Cloud; and her brother-in-law, Jim Manley of Nevada.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lawrence in 1999; and her sister, Myrna Manley.