Elizabeth Hazel Boatman-Unruh

Elizabeth “Betty” H. Boatman Unruh, 86 entered the journey of heavenly eternity on July 21, 2010. At the Edmore Memorial Rest Home, Edmore, ND. She was a model of faith of a Christian woman, and now is walking with Jesus, flying with the angels, and keeping an eye on the rest of us. Funeral Services for Betty will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at the Swiss Mennonite Church in Alsen, ND with burial in the Storlie Cemetery, rural Hampden, ND. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 6:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Elizabeth “Betty” Hazel (Gurley) Boatman Kummer Unruh was born August 8, 1923 to Hazel (Burt) and Charles Gurley at Loma, ND. She attended Loma Public School through her sophomore year and was known as “Bibbish” by her family and friends. She moved to Mohall, ND to live with her Aunt Mabel and Uncle Bill Coutts and attended the Mohall Public School. The following year she moved to Hampden to live with a local family and was their housekeeper and nanny. In Hampden she was dubbed “Betty”, which fit her the rest of her life. She graduated from Hampden Public School May 29, 1942. In the meantime, she had fallen in love with Nathan Boatman and they were wed November 20, 1943. They resided at Nathan’s parents for the next few years. Soon they were blessed with a son, Gordon. The little family soon moved to a nearby farmhouse where they were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Shirley Ann. However, at six weeks of age, the family was in a car accident, which left her in a comatose state. She was lovingly cared for at home for the next eight years. In the meantime, Mary Jane and Donn were born. Shirley Ann received her angel wings on Wednesday, November 17, 1954. A few years later, Paul and Debbie joined the family. Betty was involved in the Hampden Homemakers and enjoyed being a 4-H leader. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Hampden, where she loved to sing in the choir with her high angelic sounding voice. On February 28, 1973, Nathan joined his little girl in heaven. In the fall of 1973, Betty purchased a house in Hampden, and resided with her two youngest children. She was the first manager of the Hampden Café in the new Hampden Mall and cooked Senior Meals on Wheels for the Hampden Senior Center. She loved to annually cook at the Sand Hill Bible Camp as well as the Fahocha Bible Camp. She faithfully attended the Assemblies of God Church of Cando. In 1980 Betty moved to St. John to live and work at the Cross Roads Range Bible Camp. It was here that she met Donald Kummer. They were wed in the chapel of the bible camp on November 18, 1981. Betty moved to the Walcott/Colfax ND area. Along with her husband, she joined the Breckinridge Gospel Tabernacle. On April 16, 1987, Don was killed in a bulldozing accident and again, Betty was widowed. In 1988 she moved to the apartment building in Alsen, and found herself cooking once again, this time at the Alsen Café. At this time she became a member of the Swiss Mennonite Church of Alsen. In 1990, she moved to an apartment at the back of the Alsen Store. Betty was an avid seamstress and enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and knitting for her family and friends. She also enjoyed baking and cooking, especially for others. On October 3, 1997, Betty married Leonard Unruh of Munich, where upon she became a member of the Salem Mennonite Church of Munich. However, on January 10, 2003, Leonard also went to be with the Lord and Betty was widowed times three, but her faith kept her strong. In the spring of 2004 she purchased a house and moved back to Alsen. She made her home there until November of 2006, when she became a resident of the Edmore Memorial Rest Home due to health reasons. Family and friends were treasured by her especially the children. She was known as “Grandma Betty” to every child she came in contact with, as well as many adults who adored her. Betty also had a one of a kind sense of humor and loved playing jokes on everyone. She was a strong woman who loved her Lord, never lost her faith, always remained a positive person and left behind a wonderful legacy. She was loved by all, and will be dearly missed by many. Betty is survived by five children, Gordon Boatman (special friend, Loretta), Alsen, Donn (Phoebe) Boatman, Union, KY, Paul (Patsy) Boatman of Grand Forks, ND, Mary Jane (David) Rose, Mauston, WI, and Debbie (Michael) Roppel, Alsen. She was blessed with thirteen grandchildren, Shirley (David) Langer; Rebecca (Eric) Richmond; Darlene (Tim) Donaldson; Monica (Paul) Robinson, Nathan Boatman, Matthew Boatman, Brittney (Boatman) Wilson, Lisa (Greg) Bredemier; Tina Boatman, Amanda Boatman, Justin (Mallory) Roppel, Derek Roppel, and Candice Roppel, and nineteen great grandchildren. Betty was also blessed with 8 step-children and spouses, several step grand-children, and many, many step great-grand children. She also had numerous nieces and nephews. Special people in Betty’s life include Elaine Ivesdal and her son Brandon, and her dear friends Charlie, Marilyn, and the staff at the Edmore Memorial Rest Home. She was preceded in death by her husbands, her daughter, her parents, two sisters, Charlotte Coyle and Lois Conlin, and two brothers, Donald and Roger.