Betty Lou Bannick, age 95 of Walnut Grove, passed away Friday, September 18, 2026 at Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am Friday, September 25, 2026 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 pm Thursday at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Friday. Interment is in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Murray County Hospice in lieu of flowers. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Betty Lou Bannick was born July 11, 1931, two miles west of Walnut Grove in Springdale Township, Redwood County. She was the daughter of Andrew and Hazel (Harriman) Farber. She attended country school for six years and later graduated from Walnut Grove High School. She furthered her education with teacher’s training in Lamberton. Betty lived on the family farm and taught country school at District #116 for 2 years from 1949-1951. Betty met Emil Bannick at a dance in Walnut Grove, and they were married on September 22, 1951 at the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church. The couple settled in Lake Benton until 1963 when they moved back to Walnut Grove. Betty stayed home and raised her family until 1966, when she became a Title I instructor in Walnut Grove and worked in various positions within the school. She belonged to the English Lutheran Church where she was active with the Women of the ELCA. For 35 years, Betty volunteered with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, selling tickets. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and Prairie Land Genealogy Society where she recorded all headstones in 10 local cemeteries and provided that information to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. In her spare time, she loved quilting.
Betty is survived by her children: Susan (Greg) Mohrland of Las Vegas, Ronald (Carol) Bannick of Walnut Grove, LaDonna Albertson of Walnut Grove, and Gary Bannick of Slayton; grandchildren: Andrew, Alysha, Nathan, Emily, Meghan, Caitlin, Ryan, Molly, Greg, Shane, and Casey; 12 great-grandchildren; daughter in law Heather Bannick of Las Vegas. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Emil, son Dale and brothers: William, Maurice, Howard & Allan Farber.
