Betty Ann Straight

Betty Ann Straight (Dobrunz) passed away June 23, 2025 at her daughter, Peggy’s home, surrounded by her family. Betty was born on April 16, 1936 to Otto and Esther (Zenke) Dobrunz at her parent’s home in Dakota, MN. She was a 1954 Winona Sr. High graduate. Betty married Ronald Straight on October 25, 1958 and they started their married life in Dresbach and later Dakota, MN. Betty and Ron were married 60 years until Ron passed in 2018. They had three children Cheryl, Randall and Peggy.

Betty had several occupations including working in grocery stores and picking apples in Dakota, MN; working at Filter Supply and Watkins in Winona, MN; Mercury Industries in Richland Center, WI; Gerber Products Company in Reedsburg, WI; and Bauer’s Market in La Crescent, MN. Together with Ron, they farmed first in MN and later in WI. Betty made friends wherever she worked.

Betty was active, enjoying a wide range of interests from playing guitar in a band and softball when she was younger, to fishing, attending sporting events (she loved her Twins baseball and Vikings Football), gardening and caring for her flowers, playing cards, games and bingo, traveling, dancing, music events (especially country and polka), making the best raspberry jam, and baking sweets.

Betty liked spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially watching her great grandchildren wrestle, play football, and baseball, dance and act, and creating her own special game of hide-and-seek.

Betty is survived by her children Cheryl Straight (Bill) Rathbun Gillette, WY, Randall (Susun) Straight Rushford, MN, and Peggy (Alan) Scafe Mondovi, WI; grandchildren Nicholas (Michelle) Straight, Bart (Trista) Greiner, Mike Straight, Drew Straight, Lacy (Shane) Larson, and Jenna Straight; great-grandchildren Tyson, Brogan, Blake, Jace, Colton, Emerson, Everly, and Eliza; two step grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren. Betty Ann is also survived by her sisters Carol Papenfuss and Shirley Nagle; brother Steven (Lynn) Dobrunz and sisters-in-law Mary Ann Dobrunz, Carolyn (Gerald) Hafner, Ellen (Dan) Kinne, Sharon Reynolds, and Mary Jo Mosher; many nieces and nephews, and friends. Betty Ann was preceded in death by her husband, parents, mother and father-in-law, brothers Marvin, Ray, Gordon and Dennis, and sister Lorraine.

Funeral services will be Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 12 Noon, St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Nodine, MN. Pastor Ethan Boese will officiate. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. After committal, a light meal will be served at St. John’s Lutheran School All Purpose Room.

A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice, especially Tessa, Mykah, Gina, Stephanie, Sarah, Nikki and Dalva