Betty Lou Cuklanz

July 27, 2019

Betty Lou Cuklanz, daughter of Glen and Violet Roland, was born on August 26, 1936, in Ruthven, Iowa. She received her education in Ruthven, graduating from Ruthven High School. 

Betty married Duane (Toad) Cuklanz and to this union two children were born. Betty was a farm wife, waitress, and a cook. After retirement she continued to share her amazing produce, delicious baked goods and pies at the Farmer’s Market. The best of days for Betty were on the farm, gardening, flowers, canning, baking, and feeding her family. Betty’s table was always full with coffee cups, delicious meals, cakes, cookies, homemade bread, and cinnamon rolls. She loved taking care of her animals, all 100 of her cats and dogs, her rescued donkeys as grandpa would refer to them as the “hayburners” and many other random critters that were lucky enough to wander to the farm.

Betty was a loving mother to David (Alicia) Cuklanz and Cheryl (Harold) Hughes. A doting grandmother to Todd Cuklanz of Laurens, IA, Shelly (Bryan) Lohman of Spencer, IA, Crystal Cuklanz of Laurens, IA, Nicola (Jay) Hughes-Petrich of Seattle, WA, Melody (Joe Ihnen) Hughes of Minneapolis, MN and Jill (BJ) VanVleet of Des Moines, IA. An adoring great-grandmother to Tyson, Olivia, Collin, Kage, Tristan, Savannah, Adelle, Gavin, and Oliver. Other survivors include, brothers-in-law Richard Mingus and Alan Enderson; sister-in-law Nancy Roland; special niece, Lisa Markley; as well as many other nieces and nephews.

Betty passed away peacefully on July 27, 2019, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by husband Duane (Toad) Cuklanz; her parents; brothers, Donald Roland, Charles Roland, Robert Roland, and Dean Roland; and sisters, Virginia in infancy, Vivian Fread, Darlene Nissen, Mary Mingus, and Helen Enderson. Betty was the last of the brothers and sisters to join the Roland parents. Once again, the chairs around the Roland family table are full and the coffee is being consumed in large quantities.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home. martinmatticefuneralhome.com