Betty Louise (Shaffer) Wells

Betty Louise (Shaffer) Wells,
86 of Rapidan, died on December
13, 2025. A memorial service was
held on Tuesday, December 30
at Northview – North Mankato
Funeral Home. Betty’s recorded
service is available to watch at
www.mankatomortuary.com.
Betty was born on July 1, 1939 to
Raymond and Gladys (Buchanan)
Shaffer in Dryden, Ontario. She
immigrated to Grantsburg, WI in
1943 at age 3. She graduated from
Grantsburg High School in 1957.
Betty worked as a secretary for
Univac in St. Paul for 10 years. In
1961 she met Arnold “Arne” Wells
and they were married in Grants-
burg, WI on September 16, 1961.

In 1967 Betty and Arne moved
to Rapidan, MN and bought the
farm where they spent their lives
together. They were blessed with 2
children.

Betty enjoyed many hobbies,
including photography, sewing,
jewelry making, painting and gene-
alogy. She loved to travel and write
about her trips. She was a great
cook and enjoyed entertaining
friends and family. Above all, Betty
never missed an opportunity to
spend time with her children and
grandchildren. Her active lifestyle
allowed her to attend the vari-
ous concerts and sporting events
for her children, and later, her
grandchildren. She and Arne never
missed an event. She loved light-
houses, nativity scenes, working
out at the YMCA, and Christmas
time. She was very proud of her
family’s many accomplishments,
including the MNSU handball
courts, which were recently named
the Arnold and Betty Wells Hand-
ball Courts.

Betty was preceded in death by
her parents, and three siblings
Donald Shaffer, Carol Cross, and
Raymond Shaffer.
Left to cherish Betty’s memory
are her husband Arne; children
Mike (Karen) Wells of Good
Thunder, MN, and Andrea (John)
Wambold of Eagan, MN; grand-
children Grant (Rachel) Wambold,
Zachary Wells, Sophia Wambold,
and Lucas Wells.
The family of Betty would like to
extend a special thanks to the staff
at New Perspective and St. Croix
Hospice for their excellent care and
compassion.