Elizabeth (Betty) J. Wagner passed away on Wednesday, November 30th, with her family and Fr Gary gathered around her in prayer. Her departure from this world was as faith-filled, beautiful and quietly powerful as her presence in it. She was born on April 23, 1925 to the late Nick and Anna (Theobald) Goeser. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Cloud Catholic Church and attended St. Cloud Parochial School. On October 9, 1945 she married Wilbert (Billy) Wagner at St. Cloud Catholic Church in St. Cloud, WI. On October 9, 2015, they celebrated 70 years of marriage. Billy predeceased her on March 1, 2016. Having lost her mother at the age of five, Betty was an extremely nurturing person who, with Billy, went on to raise nine children on the same farm on which she grew up. She was happy to have her father ("Pa") live on the farm with her and her family until his death in 1972. Betty was keenly aware of the importance of family, which was reflected in her efforts to preserve the stories and history of those that preceded and surrounded her. Betty loved music and lyrics, and danced with Billy to polka bands regularly for 50+ years. At her 70th wedding anniversary with Billy, she attributed their successful union to the observation that "it gets better every day." A woman of infinite hope, Betty gardened with enthusiasm and canned nearly 100 quarts of tomatoes every year until she was 90. In short, Betty loved her life and her work and often commented that she would absolutely live it all over again if she could. Survivors include her nine children, Ann (Lawrence) Eberle of Plymouth, Mark (Carol) Wagner of Glenbeulah, Earl (Kathi) Wagner of Plymouth, James (Gail) Wagner of Plymouth, Warren (Theresa) Wagner of Plymouth, Joseph (Laura) Wagner of Glenbeulah, Mary (Michael) Goebel of Eden, Nicholas Wagner of Milwaukee, and Jane Wagner of Sheboygan; 23 grandchildren, Donald (Brenda) Eberle, Jean (Robert) Vollbrecht, Joyce Eberle, David (Rachel) Eberle, Christopher Wagner, Jill Wagner, Jodi Wagner (fiance' Lloyd Rebedew), Brent (Becky) Wagner, Chad (Nicole) Wagner, Erik Wagner, Kurt (Caroline) Wagner, Wendy (Andrew) Burch, Steven (Stacy) Wagner, Paul (Lisa) Wagner, Lynn (Christopher) Lisowe, Thomas (Maureen) Wagner, Andrew (Abigail) Wagner, Leah Wagner, Andrea (Aaron) Morris, Tony Wagner, Bradley (Kim) Wagner, Katie (Joseph) Schultz, Emily (Kory) Bestul; 37 great-grandchildren. Betty is further survived by two sisters, Mary (Edmund) Kraus of St. Peter and Genevieve (Gerald) Wagner of St. Peter; three sisters-in-law, Irma (Rolland) Wolff of Fond du Lac, Dolores Wagner of Stockton, CA, and Marilyn Wagner of Fond du Lac; two brothers-in-law, Gerald (Genevieve) Wagner of St. Peter and Rolland (Irma) Wolff of Fond du Lac. Preceding her in death was one brother, Othmar and Alice Goeser of Plymouth; two sisters, Johanna and Andrew Freund of Fond du Lac, and Germaine and Leander Braun of St. Peter; father and mother-in-law, Leo and Clara (Schneider) Wagner of St. Peter; in-laws, Orlina Wagner and Eleanor Wagner of Fond du Lac, Edmund Kraus of St. Peter, Ervin Wagner (in infancy), Raymond and Valeria Wagner of St. Peter; and grand-daughter-in-law, Julie (Erik) Wagner. Private services will be held. For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920)999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net. The family would like to extend sincerest thanks to Fr Gary Wegner and Sr Jenada Fanetti, Dr Andrea Gavin, and Aurora At Home Hospice. The family would like to give special thanks and recognition to the caring staff at Anita's Gardens. The following was taken from the church bulletin and always on Betty's refrigerator: The greatest handicap: Fear The best day: Today The easiest thing to do: Find a fault The most useless asset: Pride The greatest mistake: Giving up The biggest stumbling block: Egotism The most disagreeable person: The complainer The worst bankruptcy: Loss of enthusiasm The greatest need: To be appreciated The meanest feeling: Regret at another's success The best gift: Forgiveness The greatest moment: Death The greatest knowledge: God The greatest thing in the world: Love