© Glenn

Bettie COOPER HOLTMANN

© Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

06-30-2013

Submitted by: Lois Burdick

Recent Deaths

On 26 June 2013, Mrs. Bettie Lorraine Holtmann (Cooper) passed away at age 91. She resided at Golden Oaks Assisted Living in Enid Oklahoma. She passed quietly in her sleep from congestive heart failure.

Bettie was born May 8, 1922, in McCune, Kansas, to Lloyd and Dottie Cooper. Bettie was the eldest of three children, her sisters Ellen Young of Wichita, Kansas, and Gene Cooper of Toledo Bend, Texas.

In November 1942, Bettie married Ervan J Holtmann, whom she had met on a blind date. What was most interesting was this was a double date, and they were supposed to be matched up with the other couple; but God had other plans and quickly they became a serious couple. But then anyone who knew Bettie and Ervan knew they were a match made in heaven.

Bettie and Ervan were quite the travelers, going to places like Thailand, Japan, Germany, Italy; but she told us once, “as beautiful as all those places are, where I am happiest is back home fixing a big dinner for all my family.” Yes, and we were all very happy as well, as she was a great cook. One of her best-known dishes was her potato soup; it was wonderful on a cold winter evening. She would also fix something called “Porcupine Meatballs;” they could really fill you up and still you would come back for more. But all the kids loved her “Jon-Ben-Ghetti.” It was the original skillet helper before skillet helper ever was invented. One thing everyone knew about Bettie L. Holtmann was she loved to fish. She was not one to use fancy new lures or big fancy fishing boats. Bettie was a farm girl who would quietly sit at the water’s edge, place a worm or minnow on her hook and peacefully enjoy the day, catching fish at her leisure. We can be sure she is fishing right now in heaven.

Bettie is survived by her daughter, Patricia Holtmann-Lawson and husband Jerry Lawson from Biloxi, MS; her son, Jon C. Holtmann and Ms. Susan A. Holtmann from Fountain, CO; four grandchildren, Craig M. Lawson of Wilmington, N.C., Joshua Lawson of Wilmington, N.C., Jerrica Lawson of Denver, CO, and Ian Holtmann of Fountain, CO; and son-in-law Brent Finses of Colorado. She is predeceased by her husband, Ervan J. Holtmann, who passed away on 26 June 2006 in Enid, OK, and her daughter, Penny A Finses, who passed away 14 Sept. 2010 in Enid, OK.

There will be a memorial service at 0700 Sunday, the 25th of August 2013, at Golden Oaks, 5801 N. Oakwood Rd, Enid OK 73703. Rev. Jack Westin will preside and Mr. Jon Holtmann and Patricia H-Lawson will receive. Mr. Robert Reck will sing selected hymns. All family, friends and acquaintances are invited. Mrs. Holtmann will be interred at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Enid OK. The funeral home in charge of arrangements is Ladusau-Evans,

Ervan J. HOLTMANN

© Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK June 26, , 2006

Submitted by: Lois Burdick

The funeral for Ervan J. Holtmann, 82, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Gary Hendrickson will officiate. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are by Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

He was born Jan. 28, 1924, in Enid to the Rev. J.H. Holtmann and Kathryn Mandalek and died Monday, June 26, 2006, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center.

He married Bettie L. Cooper Nov. 20, 1942, in Muskogee. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and active in Lutheran Laymen's League. He also was a member of Kiawanis and Garden Club of Enid. He taught at Lutheran High School in St. Louis and Lawton High School. He was a professor at Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas, and also taught in the business department at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind. He retired in 1984. He served in World War II and was a retired Air Force reserve officer.

Surviving are his wife, Bettie; two daughters, Penny Finses of Enid and Patti Lawson of Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Alaska; one son, Jon Holtmann of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Esther Reim and Adalyn Kreinke, and two brothers, Henry and Harold.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Lutheran Hour Ministries or Lutheran Laymen's League. Condolences may be made online at ladusauevans@coxinet.net.