Betty L. Hart

Betty L. Hart, age 101, Bloomington, MN, passed away on April 3, 2026. A Christian Funeral will be held at 11 AM with Visitation from 10 - 10:45 AM on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 5634 Luther Road SE, Prior Lake. Betty will be laid to rest at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Prior Lake.

In lieu of flowers, memorials and donations are preferred to St. Paul's Foundation Fund.

Betty L. Hart was born in Rabbit Lake Township on February 9, 1925, to Bertha and Gustav Gruenhagen. Betty was the youngest of eight children: Ella (Clarence) Emch, Esther (August) Uecker, Lydia (Henry) Menzel, Emma (George) Freerks, Clarence (Marie) Gruenhagen, Edward (Hazel) Gruenhagen, and Arnold (Edna) Gruenhagen.

On April 30, 1949, she married Richard Hart, and together they raised three sons. Betty later retired from a career with Target. Betty and Rich cherished their retirement years helping care for their four grandchildren and teaching them how to dance, play cards, ride a bike, play catch, golf, and bowl. Betty was also blessed to know six great-grandchildren.

Over her remarkable lifetime, Betty has witnessed profound moments in history: the Great Depression, World War II, the development of the atomic bomb, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the 1969 moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of the internet, the 9/11 attacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Betty resided in memory care at Martin Luther in Bloomington, where she was affectionately known by staff as “Gentle Betty.” Betty's family truly appreciates the care she received in her final years.

Betty will be missed by her son, Gary (Jennifer) Hart and their children, Laura (Bryan) Gehrke and Steven (Tucker) Hart; son, Tom (Tammy) Hart and their children, Joe Hart and Becky Hart; great-grandchildren, Bridget Hart, Jacob Hart, Danica Hart, Matthew Gehrke, Michael Gehrke, and Naomi Hart; other relatives and friends.

She will be reunited in heaven with husband, Richard Hart; son, Ronald Hart; parents; three brothers; and four sisters.