Betty Toepfer was born on October 20, 1922 and died at St. Clare Manor on March 22, 2021 as a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge. She was a retired educator in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Betty attended St. Joseph Academy and received Bachelors (1942) and Masters (1951) degrees in education from Louisiana State University where she was a member of Alpha Zi Delta sorority. Her first teaching assignment was in Crowley, LA followed by a career as a teacher in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system (Bernard Terrace Elementary, Westdale Junior High School, Tara High School). She retired from the public-school system in 1976 followed by a year as principal of St. Isadore Catholic School. She was proud to have had Senator Bill Cassidy as a student at Tara High and remained friends with him throughout her life. Betty was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma teaching sorority throughout her life as a participant and contributing editor. She was a longtime member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic minister. Those who knew Betty will remember her trademark green ink handwriting and tales of living in the Old State Capital tower during World War II. She met her husband, Al, when he was assigned to Harding Field for training at the beginning of World War II. They were married for over 58 years and raised three boys. Their retirement years were spent traveling, enjoying an active social life of dancing, Mardi Gras balls and their grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Milford Toepfer; father, Frank Alfred Nesom; mother, Virgie Graziella Leblanc; and sister, Margaret Nesom Fauver. She is survived by sons, Fred Toepfer (Pat) of Brentwood, TN, Bob Toepfer (Sharon) of Denham Springs, Chris Toepfer (Renee) of Prairieville; grandchildren, Kristin Toepfer Freire (Eymard) of Chicago, Eric Toepfer (fiancé Jackie Staudacher) of Nashville, Nathan Toepfer of Pensacola, Jordan Toepfer of Lafayette, Joshua Toepfer of Prairieville, Lauren Causey Broussard (Nick) of Gonzales, and Jeremy Fletcher of Albany; great-grandchildren, Lara Freire of Chicago and Bennett Broussard of Gonzales. A special thanks to Betty’s longtime friends, Glynda and Harold Lloyd and the staff at St. Clare Manor. Visitation at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at 9:00 am, Monday, March 29 until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am with the Rev. Father Todd Lloyd as celebrant. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park.
