Gwendolyn "Betty" Boysen

Gwendolyn “Betty” Boysen, age 97 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin. Gwendolyn Betty Latcham was born in April of 1923 in Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Robert and Florence (Kerr) Latcham. In Betty’s early years her family moved often. In 1940, she graduated from Preston High School. On October 12, 1940, Betty was united in marriage to William Odrie (Bill) Applen in Harmony, Minnesota. William passed away in 1959. In 1962, she married Gerald “Jerry” Boysen in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Betty worked at Hormel Foods in Austin for over 22 years. She volunteered her time at the Mower County Senior Center, St. Mark’s Lutheran Home and St. Mark’s Apartments. Betty was a longtime member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin. She loved music, painting, reading, gardening and her ever expanding family. Betty also did beautiful needlework and was great at doing jigsaw puzzles. She will be dearly missed by many.

Survivors include her son, Gary (Milla) Applen of Austin, MN; daughter, Carol Gottesman of Edina, MN; step-daughters, Patricia Amdahl of Austin, MN, Judy (Steve) Boysen-Rumbaugh of Omaha, NE; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; 1 great-great-great grandchild; brother, John (Cathy) Latcham of Rochester, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, R. Charles and Florence Latcham; husbands, William Applen and Gerald Boysen; two sisters, Ina Diane and Jane Ellen; brother, R. Charles Latcham, Jr.; sons-in-law, Irving Gottesman and Blaine Amdahl.

Many thanks to the care staff at St. Mark’s Assisted Living Memory Care Unit for their wonderful attention and kind support for Betty. Thanks also to St. Croix Hospice staff for their excellent care and family support.

A private family graveside service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Minnesota. Memorials are preferred to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Education) or the Mower County Senior Center. Services are prearranged and performed with Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.