Elizabeth Rose Kieffer

Elizabeth "Betty" R. Kieffer, 89, of Winona, died Saturday, December 24, 2011 at Lake Winona Manor.Betty was born at home in Minneiska on November 21, 1922 to Michael and Hedwig "Hattie" (Maschka) Wieser. When she was in third grade, her family moved to Elba. Because she was the only pupil in the class, she was pushed into 4th grade where she met her future husband, Cecil Kieffer. Betty graduated from St. Charles High School in 1939 and attended teachers training in Winona for one year. On April 26, 1944, Betty and her childhood sweetheart were united in marriage at the Catholic Church in Elba. When she was 17 years old, Betty began teaching in country school. She taught 8 grades and had many responsibilities besides lesson plans. She built fires to keep warm, cleaned floors and pumped water to drink. She taught for two years then moved to Winona. There, she worked at Federal Bakery; Neco, a plant that made chrome trim for cars; and Mahlke Bakery. She also worked in the laboratory at Winona Hospital for 30 years until her retirement. Shortly after her retirement, she began working at the Red Owl Deli and the K-Mart Deli. Betty had a deep faith and treasured her family and friends. She enjoyed playing cards, Bingo and working on her "puzzle books." Survivors include her daughters, Donna Ehlers of Pennsylvania and Linda (Greg) Schoener of Red Wing; son, Kelly Kieffer of Eagan; 7 granddaughters, Julie Ehlers, Jennifer (Andy Pellegrini) Ehlers, Lindsay (Chris) Cox, Lisa (Greg) Mielke, Emily (Mason) Grobe, Megan (Dan) Mathisen, Abby (Troy) Wiley; 5 great-granddaughters; 3 great-grandsons; sister-in-law, Thelma Wieser of Winona. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cecil, in 1999; brothers, Gerald and Francis Wieser; son-in-law, David Ehlers.There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Reverend James Berning officiating. Visitation will be held from 9-11am on Wednesday at church. Burial will be in the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Elba.The family prefers memorials to the Winona Health Foundation.Please share a memory of Betty with her family and sign the online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.