Betty R. Andres

Betty R. Andres

Betty R. Andres, 88, of Ft. Myers, FL and formerly of Minneapolis, MN, died Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Ft. Myers.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2015, at the United Methodist Church in Fayette with Rev. Mee Kang officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to services at the church on Sunday. Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette is assisting the Andres family.

Betty was born on April 4, 1927, in Clermont, Iowa, to Sophie (Anderson) and Walter Follett, She graduated from Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa (’46) with a Teaching degree. She married Bill Andres at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa. Never did Betty ever dream about the life and experiences she would encounter while growing up in the small farming community in Iowa. Betty left an amazing legacy, as she lived fully and loved deeply. She and Bill travelled the world, she christened a super tanker, and gave generously to provide Upper Iowa University with many of the sculptures that grace the campus. Through contributions from Betty and the William and Betty Andres Foundation, she lead the drive for the completion of the Andres Center For Business and Education. She was an Emeritus member of the UIU board of Trusties and was presented an honorary doctorate from UIU in 2011. She gave generously to many organizations in her home town. After Betty married she taught fourth grade and up until a few years ago, enjoyed corresponding with former students. She not only taught in the classroom, but was a teacher of life by the example she set. She was honored to have made a difference in people’s lives. Betty wanted us to celebrate her life. Her ability to make strangers her friends, her smile, warm hugs, humor, her contagious laughter wherever she was. She brought joy to so many even when faced with the difficult challenges of Alzheimer’s. Though she had many roles throughout her life, the ones she treasured the most were of wife, mother and teacher. Family always came first and she loved and felt so proud of all them. She lived in Florida, but spent her summers in their Minnesota Lake home, where she spent hours gardening and fishing.

Survivors include her sons, Dr. Charles (Janet) Andres, Brainerd, MN, Richard (Chris) Andres, Medina, MN, grandchildren and great grandchildren; Stephanie (Jason) Duffy, stepsons, Miles and Spencer, Boulder, CO, Michael (Vanessa) son Wesley, Cascade, CO, Steven, Maple Grove, MN, Brad (Nikki) St Paul, MN, Emily, St Paul, MN, step grandchildren, Josh (Angela) Koch, Elias and Theo, Melbourne, Australia, Justin (Heidi) Koch, Pearl, Rogers, MN. Siblings; Marilyn (Ed) Waters, Overland, KS, Henry (Karen) Follett, Clermont, IA, Carolyn (Larry) Schatz, Lewiston, PA, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by, her husband of 52 years, William, son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Robert (Jilayne) Andres, parents, Sophie Green, Walter Follett, sister, and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Kenton Krueger.

She was an amazing woman and will be dearly missed by all. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Upper Iowa University.

Tom & Cheryl Whittle on September 13, 2015 at 8:41 AM said:

Your mom was such a happy and enthusiastic lady. My parents- Harvey & Bernice Anderson - enjoyed their visits with your parents when they went to Minneapolis and stayed with Betty & Bill. We won't be able to be there today but our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Bill Cook on September 10, 2015 at 6:58 AM said:

I had the privilege of joining the UIU Board of Trustees in 1993, and the opportunity to work closely with Betty on the Board and various Committees over the years. My, what a passion she had for UIU!!! When Bill retired, the two of them adopted UIU, and spent thousands of hours and dollars on many different projects. Most noticeably were the landscaping and trees planted throughout the Campus; the beautiful sculptures around Campus; and of course the Andreas building. Betty was an outstanding human being, and there are many of us on the Board who recall her not only as a Colleague, but as a personal and beloved friend.

Darrel Lang on September 10, 2015 at 6:24 AM said:

It was an honor to serve with Betty on the Board of Trustees! Her love of Upper Iowa was so evident as she gave each of us Trustees guidance in making decisions. Her imprint on UIU is and always will be evident as one walks across the campus. My thoughts and prayers go to the Andres Family.

Scott and Bobbi Lebin on September 6, 2015 at 6:29 AM said:

She was a beautiful woman whose spirit will remain with us always. Our sympathy to her family on their loss. UIU has also lost its greatest friend and benefactor. Look around the campus and you will see Betty everywhere.

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