Betty Lou Kuelbs, age 90, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully surrounded her family on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Alomere Health in Alexandria.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 27, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Rev. Hayden Brown officiating. Interment will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.

A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Betty Lou was born on August 25, 1935, to John and Velma (Strohman) Jacobsen at home in Lake Park, Iowa. She grew up on a farm in Jackson County, Minnesota, where she worked alongside her family in many ways. Betty was baptized on October 13, 1935, and later confirmed on May 14, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley.

She graduated from Sioux Valley High School in 1953 and, three weeks later, entered the nursing program at Hamline University. Betty graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 1956. While in school, she met the love of her life, Don Kuelbs, while he was home on leave from the military. They were united in marriage on October 6, 1957, at her home church.

Together, they made their home in Sleepy Eye, where they were blessed with their two sons. Betty worked at Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital for 10 years as an OB head nurse, night supervisor, and Director of Nursing. She also served as a Red Cross nurse, was President of the Hospital Auxiliary, and taught both Sunday School and classes at the hospital.

In 1966, the family moved to the Twin Cities, where their daughter was born. After spending 18 months at home, Betty returned to nursing at Chaska Medical Clinic. The family later settled in Chaska, where Betty became deeply involved in her children’s activities as a Den Mother, Girl Scout leader, and 4-H leader. She served as president of AAL (now Thrivent) and was very active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) from 1975 to 2021, holding many leadership roles at the local, district, and state levels. She also led weekly Bible study groups in private homes for eight years.

Betty worked full-time from 1968 until 1997, first as head nurse at Chaska Medical Center until 1984, and later at Valley Family Practice as head nurse and clinic manager until her retirement.

In retirement, Don and Betty moved to Alexandria. Though retired, Betty continued working part-time in senior care for eight years because she missed nursing so much. They were also active members of Zion Lutheran Church.

Betty and Don shared a love of travel and adventure. They enjoyed a Caribbean cruise, traveled to Europe twice—including attending the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, in 2000—and spent three weeks in Australia visiting their exchange student, Kia Thatcher, whom they considered a second daughter. They also visited Alaska and 44 of the lower 48 states.

In her free time, Betty enjoyed scrapbooking, reading, camping, playing cards, and, most of all, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Harold Jacobsen; great-grandchild, Ridley; parents-in-law, Les and Rose Kuelbs; sister-in-law Audrey Jacobsen; brothers-in-law, Ray Kasch and James McDowell; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Donna Syverson.

Betty is survived by her husband of 68 years, Don Kuelbs; two sons, Kyle (Maria) Kuelbs of Grey Eagle and Kent (Kris) Kuelbs of Cologne; daughter, Amy Jo (Chris) Duzan of Wyoming, MI; three sisters, Joan Kasch, Elaine McDowell, and Ellen (Gregory) Bleck; grandchildren, Andrew (Stacy) Kuelbs, Brian (Courtney) Kuelbs, Todd (Elizabeth) Kuelbs, Heather (Craig) Bristow, Martin (Annika) Kuelbs, Dana (Sean) Jorgensen, Alec (Bethany) Duzan, Ethan Duzan, Kelly Jo Rose Duzan, and Elyse Duzan; great-grandchildren, Brynlee and Declan Kuelbs, Kainan, Nash, McKinley Kuelbs, Kinsel Jorgensen, Stella and Rhett Kuelbs, Violet Bristow, Adele Kuelbs, Hugo and Otto Duzan, along with four great-grandchildren on the way; special friends, Steve and Shirley Johnson and Kia Sadler; many beloved nieces and nephews; and numerous friends and other relatives.