Elizabeth “Betty” Ann (DeWolf) Bakke of Black River Falls
passed away April 8, 2026 at her home under the care of St.
Croix Hospice. She was born on January 11, 1942, to John and
Mary Grace (DeLonge) DeWolf.
Betty grew up in the Town of Irving, where she participated in
the Irving Sticktights 4H Club. She attended Pleasant Valley
School from first to sixth grade with two classmates, Hugh
Harper and Marlene Murray, before continuing to Melrose
Junior High and High School, graduating May 26, 1960.
Afterward, she completed officemachine training at La Crosse
Vocational School.
She moved to Minneapolis following her studies, joining many
family members already there. Betty built a long career with
Northwestern National Life Insurance Company, retiring in the
late 1980s.
On May 7, 1971, she married Warren Bakke of Fergus Falls in
St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Together they spent 39 years building
a life filled with travel, hospitality, and creativity. They explored
the country, “from East to West and North to South,” and spent
several winters in Florida. They built three homes, welcomed
friends, classmates, and family often, and tended abundant
flower and vegetable gardens. Betty especially loved collecting
seashells and crafting them into gifts, and she expressed her
artistic side by creating garden ornaments from glassware.
After Warren’s passing in 2010, Betty returned to Black River
Falls in 2014 and embraced life along the Black River. She
cherished the friendships she formed and the many holiday
gatherings and social outings she was included in. Betty also
enjoyed the many friends she met at Silver Sneakers. She
remained a devoted supporter of her childhood parish, St.
Malachy’s Catholic Church and Cemetery.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Warren Bakke; her
parents, John and Grace DeWolf; her sisters Rosella (Tilman)
Tollefson, Carol (Donald) Stenulson, and Theresa May DeWolf;
and her brothers Richard (Delores) DeWolf, Arthur (Joyce)
DeWolf, and infant brother James Francis DeWolf.
She is survived by her special friendShe is survived by her caregiver, Gary Zager,
special friends Cindy Wemette and Tammy Strandberg, many nieces and nephews and friends.
Betty will be laid to rest beside Warren at Knollwood Memorial
Gardens in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Buswell Funeral Home of
Black River Falls is assisting the family. No services will be
held. Memorials may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.
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