Betty Lou Ehlers of Minot, ND, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away on January 24, 2012 in a Minot nursing home.

Betty was a gentle angel while she was with us and continues in that role as she journeys to heaven, watching over and protecting her family from above.

She was born on July 3, 1931 in Fargo, ND, the third of four children to Eugene and Freda (Gustafson) Loomis. She was raised in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1949. She then worked for Northern States Power Co. as secretary for the purchasing, sales and engineering departments in Fargo.

Betty was united in marriage to Ralph Ehlers of Lake City, Minnesota on June 10, 1951 in Fargo. In 1952, she joined her husband in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed at the United States Naval Air Base. Upon his discharge in 1954, they returned to the Fargo area and lived there until being transferred to Minot in the fall of 1963.

Betty had been employed in Minot at the Federal Land Bank, Owner Direct Real Estate and Job Service ND.

Betty is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Ralph; her children Ronald (Joanne) Ehlers of Mission Viejo, CA, Nancy (David) Rehbein, Farmington, NM, Deanna (Timothy) Kaylor, Minot and Randal (Sandra) Ehlers, Burlington, ND; Grandchildren Brandee (Matt) Huss, Edina, MN, Melissa (Charles) Panzer, Rebecca (Jason) Smith, John Ehlers and Lindsey Kaylor, all of Minot; Great Grandchildren Alex, Cierra and Maddison Panzer, William, Christopher and Kaylynn Smith, all Minot and Olivia and MJ Huss, Edina, MN; Sister, Virginia Carlson, Fargo and brother Dr. Gordon (Maureen) Loomis, Yreka, CA; Brother-in-law Morris (Mary) Ehlers, as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna Breyer and brother-in-law Dewey Carlson.

The funeral service will be private.

Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery - rural Mandan.

Public Visitation: Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.

Memorials: The family prefers memorials in Betty's name to either Christ Lutheran Church or the Village Family Service Center Foundation.