Betty Boeckman

Roberta "Betty" Boeckman, age 80, of Montgomery, MN, passed away on July 11, 2026. A Liturgy of the Word will be held at 2:00 PM with a Time of Gathering from 11:00 AM - 1:45 PM on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (104 1st St W, Jordan, MN 55352). Father Bryan Pedersen will preside. Betty will be laid to rest at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Jordan, MN.

Roberta May "Betty" Boeckman (née Jenkins) was born on May 6, 1946, in Hallock, Minnesota, to Delphine and Lorimer Jenkins. She and her twin brother, Robert, were the youngest of five children and grew up in Lancaster, Minnesota. The family home sat across the street from her grandparents, and she often spoke fondly of the time she spent with them and her many relatives. She also cherished the countless adventures she shared with her large circle of friends. Lancaster was a very small town, and it was a close-knit community filled with love and laughter. It helped shape the kind; compassionate woman Betty would become.

When Betty was still in middle school, her mother became ill, and the family moved to Hopkins, Minnesota, so she could receive medical care. Sadly, Betty lost her mother when she was only sixteen years old, a loss she carried with her throughout her life. She often wished her own children could have known their grandmother and frequently spoke of what a loving and gentle person she had been. Betty returned to Lancaster for a short time before moving back to Hopkins to finish high school alongside her twin brother. They graduated from Hopkins High School in 1964.

After graduating, Betty worked various jobs to support herself while enjoying life with friends. During an evening out in early 1967, she met a handsome young man named Bill Boeckman. Their relationship began slowly, but by the end of the year they were married. Bill and Betty began their life together on December 1, 1967, and remained deeply in love throughout every one of their nearly 59 years of marriage.

Married life did not begin quietly, as Bill came with a ready-made family that included two young children, Jeff and Dawn. From the moment she met them, Betty loved and cared for them as though they were her own. Tami was born in 1970, followed by Chad in 1971, completing their family of six.

The family settled in Jordan, Minnesota, where they raised their children. Betty became especially close to Bill's family and took on a special role in the lives of his younger siblings. Many have said, "She was like a second mother to me," and that was especially true for them. She gave her love unconditionally and her guidance without judgment. Wise in unexpected ways, she became a trusted confidant to many.

In their early years together, Betty happily shared Bill's many hobbies. Whether it was trap shooting, snowmobiling, or racing, she was always by his side. They also loved playing cards with her many aunts and uncles, spending time with friends and family, and making frequent trips "Up North" to visit relatives in Lancaster. One of Betty's favorite pastimes was garage-sale shopping, especially with her friends and family. Fun and laughter were an integral part of her life, and her sense of humor was unmatched.

In 1978, Bill and Betty welcomed their first Springer Spaniel, and Sand Creek Kennels was born. During the early years, they raised both Labradors and Springers before dedicating themselves exclusively to English Springer Spaniels in the mid-1980s. In 1985, they moved to an 80-acre farmstead in Kilkenny Township, where they thoughtfully transformed the property into an idyllic landscape designed for raising, training, and developing championship field trial English Springer Spaniels. More than just a farm, it became the heart of Sand Creek Kennels—a place where family, friends, and generations of remarkable dogs came together. Betty was instrumental in the success of the kennel, and the championship bloodlines she and Bill developed together will live on for generations. She was loved and respected throughout the field trial and Springer Spaniel community, and her contributions to the betterment of the breed will long be remembered. The farm remained their home for the rest of Betty's life and continues to be home for Bill today.

Her greatest joy was her family. Betty was the kind of mother everyone hopes to have. She had the patience of a saint, and there was never any doubt how deeply she loved her children. She rarely became angry and never raised her voice. The example she set as a mother lives on in her children today. She was present for every one of Jeff's and Chad's ball games and every dance recital, choir concert, and band performance for Dawn and Tami. No matter what, she was always there.

Betty loved her husband, and Bill loved her. Their marriage lasted nearly 59 years, and they told each other "I love you" every single day. Even as cancer slowly pulled her away from reality, she always knew who Bill was and never failed to tell him she loved him when he kissed her goodbye. A love like theirs—a love that gave everyone fortunate enough to know them a safe and loving place to belong—does not end with death. It lives on in eternity and in the hearts of all who were blessed to know Betty.

Betty is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 59 years, Bill Boeckman; her daughter, Tami (Anthony) Weir of Naperville, Illinois; her son, Chad Boeckman of Hutchinson, Minnesota; her son, Jeff (Melinda) Boeckman of Anchorage, Alaska; and her daughter, Dawn (Grant) Bunke of Shakopee, Minnesota. She is also survived by her beloved twin brother, Bob (Mike) Jenkins; her brother, Lorne Jenkins; her sister, Kathy DeFoe; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

She is lovingly remembered by her grandchildren, Katelyn Weir, Christian Weir, Chase Boeckman; Anthony (Heather) Boeckman and their daughter, Elizabeth; Ashley Boeckman and her daughters, Airalyn and Aryella; Amanda Boeckman; Heather Baca and her children, Alexander, Asher, and Avalon; Jacob (Laura) Daire and their daughter, Emma; and Ryan (Sarah) Daire and their daughters, McKinley, Delilah, and Irene.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorimer and Delphine Jenkins; her sister, Beverly Coffield; her parents-in-law, Leonard and Delores Boeckman; and her great-grandson, Aydan Daire-Smith.

To know Betty was to know unconditional love, unwavering kindness, quiet strength, and a laugh that could brighten any room. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the friendships she nurtured, the dogs she helped raise, and the countless lives she touched simply by being herself. She taught those around her what it meant to love without condition, to give without expecting anything in return, and to always make room for one more person at the table. She was deeply loved, and she will be deeply missed.