Betty JoAnne Koerner, 80, of White Bear Township, MN, formerly of Williston, ND passed away peacefully at home with her family on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Betty was born on October 23, 1943 to John and Thelma (Skavland) Moline in Williston, North Dakota, the fifth of six children. She spent summers on the family farm thirteen miles north of Williston, living in town the rest of the year, attending school in Williston where she first discovered her love of music under the guidance and direction of her beloved band teacher, Virgil Syverson.

After high school, she attended Minot State University, and began working as a lab technician in Montana before marrying Marvin Koerner on April 5th, 1969 in Williston, North Dakota where they established their permanent home. They had one daughter, Kysa (Koerner) Hubbard.

Betty continued work as a lab technician at Mercy Hospital for more than 20 years, and also remained “in the band” most of her adult life, playing the flute and piccolo in the City (Elks Club) Band, and the bells in the Drum and Bugle Corps. She and Marvin (who played the bass drum), took advantage of many opportunities to travel the world with the Drum and Bugle Corps, playing at the national Bicentennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1976, Norway soon after, and even Hawaii in the 1980s. Her piccolo solo in “The Stars and Stripes Forever” never failed to “wow” audiences, and to inspire in them an irresistible swell of patriotic emotion at the close of every concert. Virgil Syverson, the renown “Music Man” himself, said that Betty Koerner was the best flute and piccolo player in the entire state of North Dakota.

Although quiet and somewhat shy by nature, Betty enjoyed spending time with her immediate and extended family, especially doing puzzles and watching “America’s Got Talent” with her sister and best friend Linda, and celebrating family milestones together with her and her nieces Karen and Alison and their families. She maintained lifelong bonds with many childhood and school friends, and was a lover of animals, particularly dogs and cats. She had numerous animal companions over the years who brought joy and comfort to her and she to them until her last day. Betty and her daughter Kysa watched many classic movies and television shows together. She especially liked “Rawhide” and anything starring Paul Newman, Joe E. Brown or Doris Day. Music, too, brought comfort to Betty until the end, as she peacefully left this world listening to her favorite country and bluegrass classics.

Betty is survived by her daughter Kysa (Tim) Hubbard, step-children Lamont (Becky) Koerner, Shawneen Hammer, Sheila Koerner, Lee Koerner, ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her brother Jim (Sharon) Moline, and sister Linda Stordahl, both of Williston.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Marvin, in 1995; parents John and Thelma Moline; sister Donna (Ken) Fjare; brother David (Evelyn) Moline; sister Lois (Dynneson) Olsen; and brothers and sisters-in-law Sanrow and Alice Koerner and Andy and Irma Koerner.