Betty Jean Cohrs, 70, of Glencoe

Betty Jean (Becker) Cohrs, 70, of Glencoe, went to her heavenly home Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Glencoe Regional Health Services Long Term Care.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 18, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe. The Rev. Ronald Mathison officiated, and Dawn Wolter was the organist. A duet of Hans and Shirley Kranz sang “Be Still, My Soul.” Congregational hymns were “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace.”
Casket bearers were Kim Ronayne, Troy Cohrs, Dean Dahlke, Preston Kranz, Gene Becker, Nathaniel Uecker and Christina Becker.
Mrs. Cohrs loved her grandchildren, the Red Hats, Judge Judy, red carnations and seven-layer bars. She didn’t care much for people who were late, cold weather, margarine or cleaning house. She was as fair as anyone could be, making sure all Christmas presents were equal, and insisting that each grandchild was as beautiful and as special as the last, despite their parents’ coaxing otherwise. She overcooked most food, but served it readily to anyone who showed up at meal time. She talked on the phone to her sister Mary every day and was thrilled when the longer cord on the phone reached all the way to the stove. She loved deeply and was loved the same.
Betty Jean Becker was born Dec. 30, 1944, and grew up on a family farm in Brownton with four brothers and five sisters: Ellsworth, Sylvan, Duane, Luverne, Ella, Mary, Donna, Shirley and Joanne. Her parents, Leonhard and Esther Becker, provided a warm, caring home where butchering happened often, and love was plentiful. She attended a one-room country school, and then proudly graduated from Brownton High School in 1962.
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Penn Township, a lovely white country church, provided the perfect environment to grow tall trees and fine Lutheran children. She was baptized there on Jan. 21, 1945, by the Rev. Kolberg, and was confirmed in her faith on March 30, 1958, by the Rev. Lehne. Fifty-one years ago, on April 25, 1964, Betty and Roger Cohrs were married in that same church, and then moved to a small farm that grew acre by acre, building by building, and year by year. They farmed together, with Mrs. Cohrs doing chores while Mr. Cohrs milked cows, listening to polka music playing loudly in the barn. And then the children came in perfect order, boy, girl, boy, girl, boy: Glenn, Sheila, Joel, Annette and Jeremy. As the children grew, Mrs. Cohrs was able to spend more time on her crafts, embroidering and beading countless pillow cases, Christmas tree decorations, angels, towels and more.
She was a faithful member of First Lutheran Church in Glencoe, where she loved Christmas and Easter most of all. She sang with the choir and helped with the Missionary ladies group. She sang her heart out every Sunday, memorizing all the songs of the Christian faith. In her later years, even as her health failed, she knew all the words of every verse of “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.”
Mrs. Cohrs resided at Glencoe’s long-term care facility the past six years. While there, she knew she wanted to go home to heaven, but sincerely thanked anyone who helped her or who visited her every day. Her family is forever grateful for the care she received there.
Mrs. Cohrs was finally able to go to her heavenly home on May 12, 2015. She no longer needs a phone to talk to her sister Mary, who she has missed terribly since Mary’s passing in 2003. While they sing good Lutheran hymns together, her loved ones mourn Betty’s passing but rejoice in her new life in heaven.
She is survived by her husband, Roger, of rural Glencoe; sons, Glenn (Kim) Cohrs, Joel (Leigh) Cohrs and Jeremy (Terri) Cohrs, all of Glencoe; daughters, Sheila (David) Augustine of Chanhassen and Annette (Mark) Sanders of Lester Prairie. She was blessed with 15 grandchildren (all equally special) and six great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her siblings, Ellsworth (Helen) Becker and Sylvan (Sandra) Becker of Glencoe, Duane (Monica) Becker and Luverne Becker of Brownton, Ella Richeim of New Auburn, Donna (David) Schiro of Winthrop, Shirley (Hans) Kranz and Joanne (Daniel) Uecker of Gaylord.
She has been reunited in heaven with her parents, Leonard and Esther Becker and her best friend and sister, Mary (Bill) Dahlke.
Arrangements were with the Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe. An online guest book and obituaries can be found at www.hantge.com.