Betty J. Leppanen, age 99, of Grand Rapids, MN passed away peacefully Sunday, August 2, 2026 at River Grand Senior Center surrounded by her family.

Betty Jean Leppanen was born January 3, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Sigrid Kristina (Peterson) and Henning John Larson.  Her family moved to Rabey, Minnesota where she attended school.  Betty moved with her family from Rabey to Ball Bluff.  She then became a nanny for a family in Detroit, Michigan.  Her nannying experience allowed her to move with this family to California where she continued to work.  At the request of her family, she returned back to Ball Bluff in 1947 and work as a waitress in their family restaurant.

On November 15, 1947, Betty was united in marriage to Leslie Toivo Leppanen and made their home in Swan River, Minnesota for more than 50 years.  Together, they raised their family of five children.

Betty can be remembered as a great cook and an amazing baker.  Her sons remember getting off the school bus and coming into the house to the smell of warm fresh baked bread and pies of any flavor.  She enjoyed dancing and was very fond of polkas! Being a member of the Warba American Legion Auxiliary Post 432 created the opportunity to help support local veterans from the area.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Leslie in 2008; her son, Dennis Leppanen; sisters, Lorraine Koski and Dorothy Spawn; brothers, Kenneth Larson and Milo Larson; and son-in-law, Darold Iverson.

Betty will be deeply missed by her daughter, Marie Iverson of St. Cloud, MN; sons, David Leppanen of Grand Rapids, MN, Douglas (Pamela) Leppanen of Warba, MN, and Rodney (Cynthia) Leppanen of Swan River, MN; 13 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday, August 7, 2026 at Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.  A private funeral will be held.   Interment will be in Wawina Cemetery in Wawina, Minnesota.