Betty Lou Coplan

January 3, 1930 - August 8, 2016

Visitation: Visitation will be on Friday, August 12th from 3-8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with family present from 6-8 p.m.

Service: Her funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 13th at Canton Lutheran Church, with burial services taking place following the funeral at Forest Hill Cemetery near Canton.

Betty Coplan paper picBetty Lou Coplan, age 86, passed away peacefully at the Dougherty Hospice House on August 8, 2016.  A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 13th at Canton Lutheran Church, with burial services taking place following the funeral at Forest Hill Cemetery near Canton.  Visitation will be on Friday, August 12th from 3-8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with family present from 6-8 p.m.

Betty was born January 3, 1930 in McLaughlin, SD, to William and Tillie (Herman) Berg.  She graduated from McLaughlin High School in 1948.  Betty attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD as an art major.  While at USD, she worked as a crumb girl in the cafeteria and caught the eye of a handsome potato peeler.  An engagement ensued, and Burdell was deployed soon after. During Burdell’s deployment Betty was a country school teacher in Roscoe, South Dakota. In addition to her time in the classroom, Betty worked as a telephone operator in Watertown, SD.

Betty was united in marriage to Burdell Joseph Coplan, on June 8, 1952.  Early in their marriage the couple lived in both California and Georgia as Burdell continued his enlistment in the service. They moved to Canton in 1955, where Betty worked as a high school librarian and as a homemaker, raising their two daughters Elizabeth and Patty.  Betty enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, carpentry, quilting, and entertaining. Betty and her husband, Burdell, also started the local chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes holding meetings in their home, where Betty was sure to provide treats for the student athletes.  They owned and operated the Canton Greenhouse from 1978 to 1990.  Betty volunteered as the Canton Lutheran Church book store operator and decorated the Christmas trees with her homemade Chrismons and the church sanctuary for many Christmases. Being a grandma was what she loved most of all.

Those grateful for having shared her life are: her two daughters- Elizabeth Slack of Chippewa Falls, WI and Patty Kroger of Sioux Falls, SD; two grandchildren- Lindsey Woodford (Dan Schley) and Madeline Kroger; great-grandson, Hunter Woodford; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Burdell, her parents, brothers Roger Berg, Chuck Berg, Dale Berg, and grandson Seth Kroger.

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  1. Alice Ahlquist on August 17, 2016 said:

    Liz & Patty and families,
    After so many years, I still have fond memories of the time I spent in your parent’s home caring for you girls and doing laundry and cleaning. You were a very stable and loving second family to me. I marveled at Betty’s seamstress skills and artistic talent. She was a very gifted woman.
    After I became a Christian, we had one more thing in common. I know I will see both of your parents again in Eternity!
    My sincerest condolences to you all.
    God Bless You!
    Alice Ahlquist