Elizabeth "Betsi" Marie Sample

Betsi was born in Red Wing MN to Alexander Pond Heron and Marie Elizabeth Sopp Heron on June 19, 1946. She moved from Zumbrota MN to St. Paul and graduated from Murray High School. She graduated from Winona State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and later went to St. Thomas to get a Master’s Degree in Special Education.

Betsi married Hugh Ripple and have a wonderful son Carson. They divorced and later she married James Sample (deceased). Betsi and Joseph Komarek first dated in 9th grade (Joe’s first kiss); they broke up. Betsi and Joe dated for several years after their 20th class reunion. Joe asked her to marry him, but Betsi said she wasn’t ready. They remained friends and eventually got back together five years ago. Joe and Betsi are the love of each other’s life and they are grateful they had time together. Joe was always Carson’s favorite! Marianne (neighbor across the street) and Betsi were very close and Betsi said she was the daughter she never had. Joe, Marianne and Carson have loved, supported and assisted Betsi in her fight with pancreatic cancer.

Betsi taught for 35 years. She loved her students (well most of them), developed a curriculum for her special ed students, and made a difference in many lives. After retiring she worked in the kitchen at Central Lutheran Church. Everyone loved her upside down pineapple chocolate cake and her brownies.

Betsi loved plants and gardening. The deer really loved her hostas (Betsi laughed and said they did her fall pruning). Her house was always full of plants (some 7-8 feet tall!). She and Joe spent many happy hours in their gazebo. Betsi loved her dogs. She loved to travel both nationally and internationally. Betsi also loved Santas. She had over 180!! Please take one home with you to remember her.

Betsi is survived by Joe and his daughter Amber, her son Carson (Tawnya), three grandchildren (Addie, Zoe, and Will); twin sister Alexandra Sprafka (Ronald), nephews Ronald (Stephanie), their children Ava, Layla, Reza; and James (Lydia), their children James, Lillian; Cousin Mary Jane Salcido, her children Bard (Susan), their children Samantha and Nicholas; and Mark, his children Nicole, Jack and Elizabeth; “adopted” daughter Marianne Norder (Devon), their children Virginia and Peyton; “Hawaiian” sister” Verna Croft (Chuck).

Betsi is preceded in death by her parents Alexander and Marie Heron, grandparents Roy and Effie Heron and Ernest and Dora Sopp, James Sample.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM with Visitation from 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM at Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home, 2195 Woodlane Dr., Woodbury, MN  55125.  A lunch will immediately follow.   

Memorials contributions may be made to The Lustgarten Foundation at https://lustgarten.org/ or to Project Purple at https://www.projectpurple.org/