Elizabeth "Betsy" J. Koering

Elizabeth J. “Betsy” Koering, age 84, of Carlos, died on Monday, September 2, 2024, at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Belle River, with Fr. Dan Ruprecht officiating. Music will be provided by The Bells. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Elizabeth Jane was born on September 6, 1939, to George and Gladys (Kimball) Thesing in Fort Ripley, Minnesota. She was baptized at St. James Catholic Church in Randall and later confirmed at St. Mathias Catholic Church in Fort Ripley. Elizabeth attended country school in Fort Ripley before her family moved, after which she continued her education at Pillager School through the 8th grade. She began high school at Brainerd High School, graduating in 1957. After graduation, Elizabeth worked at the Little Falls Hospital before completing Beauty School in 1959. She then worked as a beautician in Little Falls. On July 21, 1962, she married Clarence Koering, at St. Mathias Catholic Church. Together, they started their family on the Koering Family Farm. In the fall of 1973, the couple moved to Carlos, where they purchased the Sportsman's Inn Café. Betsy's cooking quickly became a staple in the community, and they owned and operated the café for 25 years, retiring in 1998. During her retirement, Elizabeth enjoyed her leisure time by reading, quilting, playing cards on her iPad, and continuing to bake for her friends and family. She was an active member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, the Christian Mothers, and the Women of the Cloth quilting group. Elizabeth cherished spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and watching them grow up, as well as cheering on the Minnesota Twins whenever they were on TV.

She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Bernice Vanderby, in 2008; siblings and their spouses: George Jr. (Gertrud) Thesing, Marie (Alex) Altrichter, James (Bernadine) Thesing, and Kathleen (Daniel) Reis.

Betsy is survived by her husband of 62 years, Clarence Koering; children, Lois (Craig) Drexler of Carlos, Dennis Koering of Woodland, WA, and Jason (Rebecca) Koering of St. Paul; son-in-law, Terry (Denise) Vanderby; grandchildren, Nathan (Andreea) Vanderby, Travis (Bailey) Vanderby, Tyler (Megan) Vanderby, Jarrod (Trudy) Drexler, Alisha (Joel) Hoekstra, Olivia Drexler (Aaron Vadnais), Cassandra (Jason) Jolly, Evan Koering, Brianne Koering, Braden Koering (Chelsea Murphy), Samuel Koering, Lily Koering, and Matthew Koering; honorary grandson, Jeffery Soupier; 14 great-grandchildren; brother, Roy (Connie) Thesing; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Serving as casket bearers will be her grandsons.