Betty Lou Zierke

Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-grandmother Betty Lou Miller Zierke died on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at home in Mesquite, NV at the age of 93 after a long and blessed life. 

Betty was born to Louie and Elizabeth (Larson) Miller on March 1, 1931, at the home of her grandparents in Hebron Township, Kossuth County, IA. She was baptized in April 1931, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Stevens, IA. And confirmed at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in March 1945. She attended country school until 8th grade and graduate with honors from Lakota Public School, Lakota, IA. 

Betty married Robert (Doc) Zierke on January 1, 1950, at St. Matthew’s Church. Doc and Betty had three children, Roberta (Bobbie), Bennett, and Bruce. 

In 1957, with not enough land in the Elmore area to support their farming, they moved to farm in Stevens County, MN. Betty loved everything about being a farmer’s wife and working with her family on the farm. She raised a big garden, was active in Steven’s Homemakers, Synnes Lutheran Church and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School. Betty was active in Steven’s County Pork Producers. She enjoyed working at the annual National Pork Congress. Betty worked as a nursing aide at several nursing homes giving care to the elderly people.

Betty and Doc moved to Chokio, MN in 1995, then in 1997 to Morris, MN. They spent winters in Mesquite, NV until moving there in 2019 to live with their daughter. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, bridge, bingo, casino games, cooking, and traveling abroad to Australia, Caribbean, China, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, and the UAE.

She leaves a legacy founded on her strong Christian and rural values. She cherished her 72-year marriage to the love of her life Doc, who she has been reunited with in heaven.

Betty is survived daughter Roberta Kale of Mesquite, NV; sons Bennett (Wendy) Zierke of Hancock, MN, and Bruce (Mary Pat) Zierke of Morris, MN. Betty enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Grandchildren include Christine (Javier) Ayala-Zierke of Morris, MN; Leah (Chad) Ver Steeg of Ramsey, MN; Jamie Shelley of Alexandria, MN; Adam (Amy) Zierke of Alexandria, MN; Keri (Michael) Zierke of Morris, MN; Kyle (Courtney) Zierke of Glenwood, MN; Lora (Derek) Zierke of Morris, MN; John (Ashlee) Zierke of Morris, MN; Caleb (Elizabeth) Zierke of Champlin, MN; Ryan Zierke of Hancock, MN; Joel Zierke of Mount Pleasant, SC; and Jacob Zierke of Hancock, MN. Great-grandchildren include Xavier, Alexandro, Carlos, and David Ayala Zierke, Samuel, Jackson, Malachi, Baylor, and Eliana Ver Steeg, Evangeline Shelley, AJ and Amelia Zierke, Joseph, Lydia, David, and Abigail Zierke, Larken, Marcus, Judah, Wilder and Jack Zierke, Makenna, Jensen and Jasper Zierke and Synin Zierke. Step-grandchildren Richard Kale, James Kale, Eduardo Ayala Magana, Ziva Craig and several nieces and nephews survive her. 

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Louie and Elizabeth, siblings Waldo (Buster) Miller, Patsy (Ronald) Goeke, Janice Miller Erickson and Miles (Sandra) Miller; son-in-law Stuart Kale; and great-granddaughter Sophia Ver Steeg.

A Celebration of Life will be held in May 2025 in Morris, MN.

In honor of Betty’s passion for feeding people, the family is requesting donations to your local food bank in her memory.