ELIZABETH “BETTY” DEWOLF BAKKE

ELIZABETH “BETTY” DEWOLF BAKKE

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  Jan. 11, 1942, to John and Mary Grace (DeLonge) DeWolf.

Betty grew up in the Town of Irving, where she participated in the Irving Sticktights 4 H 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 office machine 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, MN. 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 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, MN. 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.