Betty J Neumann

Elizabeth Joan Neumann, age 84, was called to her heavenly home on August 17, 2023.  She was a resident of Nelson Gables Assisted Living in Alexandria, MN.

“BJ” Anderson was born on August 25, 1938 in Houston, TX to Arvie and Louise (Beuchler) Anderson. She was raised in Texas with her two sisters, Kay and Jeanie. They spent summers in Minnesota at the family cabin on East Battle Lake. Following her high school graduation, she enrolled at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX where she met Elmer E. Neumann. On March 22, 1958 she married Elmer in Houston, TX. They were blessed with one son, Greg.

BJ and Elmer spent the early years of their marriage in Alaska where Elmer was in the military. When he was discharged, they moved back to Texas where she worked alongside Elmer at his accounting firm and also at his communication service. In 1992, Elmer and BJ moved to live full time in the cabin where BJ had spent summers all her life. They restarted Elmer’s accounting business and also built, owned and operated Elmer’s Texas BBQ near Otter Tail Lake.  

BJ loved Jesus and was a faithful member of her church where she greatly enjoyed doing much of the decorating. She especially enjoyed beautifying the church with red poinsettias at Christmas, and on Easter Sunday, she helped the children decorate a grapevine cross with fresh flowers. BJ was blessed with the gift of hospitality. She shared her home with others as she enjoyed entertaining and loved making food for friends and family. She was well known for hosting bridal and baby showers for friends and people at church. She was a food connoisseur who loved to try out new recipes and restaurants.

BJ invested time in the people around her which led to many lifelong friendships both in Texas and Minnesota. She and Elmer treated many of their friends’ children as their own grandchildren-attending their sporting events, musicals, and other school events; baking them chocolate chip cookies, teaching them to bake and cook, and pouring into their lives in many other ways. She enjoyed many things-tennis, picking strawberries in the summer and pumpkins in the fall, trips to Sonic (in TX) and McDonald’s for Coke Icees and hot fries (in MN), traveling with Elmer, and listening to the loons at the lake. The lake was a favorite place for BJ, and in 84 years, she missed only two summers spending time on East Battle Lake. BJ had spunk! She lived life to its fullest. When working on a task, she put her whole heart and much energy into the effort. She enriched the lives of so many as she made life fun and adventurous. The “family group” with which she surrounded herself will dearly miss her.  

BJ is survived by her loving husband, Elmer; nephew Kenneth Rhodes, his wife Brooke, and their children, Madelaine and Alexandra; along with many special friends in Texas and Minnesota.

BJ was preceded in death by her parents, Arvie and Louise Anderson; son, Greg; and two siblings, Kay Rhodes and Jeanie Anderson.  

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Lakes Community Church at 10:30am with Pastor Aaron Simon officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will take place following the service at Girard Township Cemetery near Henning, MN.