Betty Luethje

Betty Jean Luethje was the second born child of Martin and Helen (DeGroot) Hansen. She was born on March 3, 1932 on a farm near Ash Creek, Minnesota. In 1938 at the age of 6, Betty’s mother died in childbirth as well as the baby girl. Betty’s father raised both Betty and her brother Gordon on the farm. Betty attended country school through the eighth grade and then continued her education at Luverne High School, graduating in 1950. Betty attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She graduated with a business degree. She worked for a short time at a bank in Luverne, Minnesota before driving to California to join her future husband. Betty was united in marriage to Keith Luethje in Long Beach, California. They both worked for aircraft factories, Keith at Douglas Aircraft and Betty as an Executive Secretary for North American Downey. They had one daughter, Deborah, while living in California. They decided to move back to Luverne and bought a service station which Keith operated for several years. Two more children were born, Dean, and three years later, Hope. For many years, Betty was a stay-at-home Mom where she worked tirelessly to meet all the needs of a growing family. She put her talents as a seamstress to good use making custom drapes for Smith’s Furniture in Luverne, along with doing custom tailoring, making beautiful dresses and gowns for weddings, proms, and other special occasions. She also stretched the family income by making many of the fine clothes that her children wore. Betty went to work in the late 1960’s for a real estate firm and obtained her broker’s license. She then bought out the business and ran it for the next 25 years. Keith would join her in the last 12 years of the business. Betty retired in the 1990’s.

In 2008, Keith and Betty decided to downsize and move from their home on Lindale Street in Luverne to a brand-new single level townhouse on Oak Drive in Luverne. They also decided to sell the summer cabin on Lake Benton where the family enjoyed many memorable weekends.

In August of 2024, Betty moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona for end-of-life care with her daughter, Hope. On Saturday, February 14, 2026, she went to be with her Lord at the age of 93 years, 11 months and 11 days.

Betty was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Luverne. She taught Sunday school for many years and served on various committees. She was also very involved in the community, serving on many committees as well. She was on the Sanford Luverne Hospital board for seven years, the Sanford Luverne Hospital Foundation board for 15 years, was part of planning and fundraising for the present Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage, and on the Luverne Planning and Zoning Board for the City of Luverne. After retirement, Keith and Betty did short-term mission work for the United Methodist Mission Group, serving on five trips to several small Caribbean Islands along with several countries in South America.

Betty is survived by her husband, Keith of Luverne; three children, Deborah Luethje Mariya and Sam Tangredi of Coronado Island, California, Dean (DJ) Luethje of Luverne, and Hope (Donald) Hoffman of Sierra Vista, Arizona; 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Helen Hansen; and brother, Gordon Hansen, her stepmother, Esther Hansen, and one great-granddaughter, Joanna Jenise Bullerman.

Memorials may be directed to the Luverne Area Community Foundation.