Betty Ann Neff

Betty Ann Neff, 66,

Minot, passed away Sun-

day, January 20, 2019, in a

Minneapolis hospital.

The person most quali-

fied to write this is also

the person who said she

would have it done so

that her children would

not have to write it. Sadly,

Betty isn’t here to make

corrections and changes.

Her children ask that you

please refrain from judg-

ing based on any grammar

or content errors, as they

are aware that there may

be many educators read-

ing this.

She was born July 28,

1952 in Minot, ND to

Dwight and Lyda (Busta)

Miller. She was raised

and educated in Minot

and graduated from Minot

High School in 1970. In

1974, she graduated from

Minot State University

with a BA in Education.

Her love for education

dated back to her child-

hood. She had fond

memories of “playing

school” with her friends;

even then, she wanted to

be the teacher. Her love

for grammar was present

even during her final days

when she corrected some-

thing one of her brilliant

surgeons said to her.

Betty met Tom Neff in

February, 1973. It was

love at first sight and they

realized they were meant

to be together for the rest

of their lives. Betty and

Tom were united in mar-

riage on June 28, 1974 and

they made their home in

Minot. Shortly after they

were married, Betty began

her lifelong career in

teaching. Tom and Betty’s

son Michael was born in

1981 and their daughter

Jenna was born in 1985.

Betty loved family

weekends at Lake Meti-

goshe, reading, her book

club gatherings, music,

gardening and shopping.

She valued friendships

and was the life of the

party, truly one of a kind,

filled with wit and wis-

dom.

She enjoyed all of the

arts. She loved listening

to music, singing and

playing piano and french

horn. She loved visual art

and was a talented artist

herself. When playing Pic-

tionary, she was the first

person chosen to be on a

team. She loved and ap-

preciated dance, took

dance lessons for many

years and taught dance.

And even though she had

an appreciation for all of

the arts, her favorite art

form was the written

word. She started reading

books at a young age and

read countless books in

her lifetime. Even with vi-

sion impairment toward

the end of her life, she

found a way to read.

Betty loved her family

above all. She treasured

spending time with her

grandchildren. She had

long, meaningful talks

with her family about

books, music, movies and

television programs. She

was her children’s closest

confidant and they loved

to talk with her about

hobbies, challenges and

life in general.

Betty was a beautiful

and kind soul. She was

loved by many and she

cared deeply for many.

She will be missed by

everyone who knew her.

Survivors include her

husband, Tom; children,

Mike (Kendra) Neff and

their children, Liam and

Lola, Minot, ND, and Jen-

na (Eric) Weppler and

their children, Olivia and

Jack, Fargo, ND; sisters,

Anne (Blaine) Robertson,

Bloomington, MN, Carol

Miller, Burnsville, MN;

and brother, Brian (Wen-

dy) Miller, Savage, MN;

and nine nieces and

nephews.

She was preceded in

death by her father and

mother, Dwight and Lyda

Miller; sister, Barbara

Pfister; brother, David

Miller; and a niece.

Funeral Service: 4:00

p.m. Tuesday, January 29,

2019 at First Lutheran

Church, 120 Fifth Avenue

N.W., Minot, ND.

Visitation one hour pri-

or to the service at the

church.

In lieu of flowers,

memorials are preferred

to Donate Life at

www.donatelife.net or to

the Minot Public Library.

Memories and con-

dolences can be shared at

thomasfamilyfuneral

home.com.