Betty Lou Willits

Betty Willits, 80, of Moorhead, MN, died Wednesday, September 23, 2020, in Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND.

Betty Lou Verbout was born on December 19, 1939, in Grygla, MN, to Hip and Hazel Verbout. She grew up in Grygla, MN, until she moved to Moorhead, MN, where she attended high school.

On February 1, 1958, Betty married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Willits. They made their home in Moorhead where they raised their daughter, Brenda and son, Bob Jr. Betty had a lifelong career in food service working at the Moorhead Country Club, Red Mill, and retired from Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Moorhead. She never missed a day of work in her 19 years of dedicated cooking for the students that adored her. Betty also loved to cook and bake for her family during the holidays, always making sure nobody went home hungry. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, who she loved more than anything.

Betty is survived by her husband of 62 years, Bob; daughter, Brenda (Troy) Etzler; son, Bob Jr. (Cindy) Willits; three granddaughters, Brigette (Rob) Devaney, Chrissy (Steven) Kartes, and Mackenzie (Mollie) Annen; five great-grandchildren, Jimmie Bates III (Cheyann Wolf), Daven Bates (Maddie Atwater), Quinn Bates, Seri Kartes, and Sawyer Kartes; one great-great-grandchild, Jaylen Bates; three sisters, Margaret Eileen Miller, Grace “Tootie” (Ralph) Rundell, and Delores “Kitty” (Conrad) Greicar; two brothers, Wayne Verbout, and Melvin Verbout; and her beloved dog, Missy.

She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, Robert, Rolland “Butch”, Lynn, and Donald Verbout.

A memorial service will be on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the service. A livestream of the service will be available on her webpage at www.wrightfuneral.com, where a guestbook and video tribute will also be found.