Betty Huelskamp Obituary

Elizabeth Louise Huelskamp, known as Betty Lou-or simply Blue to her loved ones-passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the age of 91. Her lifespan was a radiant example of faith, tenacity, and devotion to her family.

She was born in Covington, KY, on April 20, 1934, to loving parents Clement and Elizabeth Saalfed, who were always her steady support. Her straight A report cards were early proof of her love of learning. Betty Lou attended Villa Madonna College (now Thomas Moore University), where she earned her degree in English, a natural reflection of her passion for reading.

Early in her adult life Betty Lou explored a religious calling and briefly entered a convent but soon realized her heart was meant for a different path. She went on to teach high school for a year then became a librarian working at Vulcan Inc. in Cincinnati. It was there that she met her first and only boyfriend, Ray Huelskamp. They married and together they raised nine children - six of whom arrived in the first seven years of marriage. During a seven year pregnancy hiatus, Betty Lou also worked outside of the home as a tax preparer. The hiatus ended in 1970; in February of 1971, during her lunch break at H&R Block her seventh child arrived. After another two years, the last two arrived while living in Canada which completed the Huelskamp brood.

Betty Lou poured her energy into motherhood during her children’s early years. Family members recall the sound of classical music drifting through the house as she played the piano. For her own children, she added sing-along songs like Camp Town Races, Home on the Range, and even Puff the Magic Dragon to her repertoire. She made Christmas and Easter extra special with her attention to detail – carefully wrapped presents, beautiful presentations, and a quiet joy in making each holiday feel magical for the family. (Halloween – not so much.) Blue learned to play cards from her mother, and it quickly became one of her greatest pastimes. She passed that love of cards on to her children and many happy hours were spent around the table laughing, competing, and sharing in this cherished tradition. The competition was often fierce and serious on the Saalfeld side of the family, a spirited trait her children proudly carry on. In addition to group games, Betty Lou taught her children how to play solitaire which had the added benefit of a little break from the endless repetitive, Mom, Mom, Mom!

Throughout her life, Betty Lou had a deep love of crossword puzzles, whether in the morning paper, or a well-worn puzzle book, she delighted in the challenge of finding just the right word. After the stroke she continued to work on the puzzles, sometime slowly, but always with determination. Her children continued the tradition of enjoying crosswords as demonstrated by the pandemic. Three of the same crossword puzzle books were purchased, one for Blue, and the other two books went to daughters who did not live close. They spent two days a week on the phone, going through a puzzle together.

Each year the children, often begrudgingly, would spend hours picking fruit for her legendary pies. While the picking was arduous, no one dwelled on the effort once the aroma of a freshly baked pie filled the house. A favorite among them was the strawberry/rhubarb pie, with its flaky crust and the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Over the years, countless pies were made and then frozen, readily available to make any occasion a little more special.

A major shock came to the family when Ray received a job transfer from Park Hills, Kentucky, to Grande Prairie Alberta Canada. For three years the family loved/endured the bitter cold of living on the arctic edge before another transfer moved them to Green Bay Wisconsin where she proudly became a dedicated Packers fan. Thankfully, the weather did not stand in the way of participating in one of her passions, bowling. Even when she was busy doing laundry on Saturday afternoons, Betty Lou watched bowling tournaments on a 13-inch black and white TV in the basement. Neither her children nor past times stopped her from working outside the home, eventually becoming a manager at H&R Block.

In 1981 at the age of 48 Betty Lou suffered a debilitating aneurysm. Despite the severity of her condition, she drew on her faith by attending daily mass; with extraordinary courage and resolve she refused to let the trauma define her. She relearned how to manage everyday tasks including writing with her left hand and (with the guidance and supervision from her younger son) driving with her left foot. A daily ride on her stationary bike became a symbol of her commitment to recovery. The stroke did allow for one reprieve; she NEVER HAD TO CAMP AGAIN! With quiet resilience and unwavering purpose, she did the best that she could, never allowing her limitations to dim her spirit.

As the years passed, Betty Lou began to experience the world through travel. She made four memorable pilgrimages to multiple religious sites throughout Europe. However, a trip to Hawaii in 1991 spawned a deep love of the islands. She made the trek more than 10 times delighting in the beauty, peace and joy they offered. Her favorite place was sitting in a chaise lounge on the lanai with a book, listening to the ocean waves break.

In 2016, after 35 years of living in the frozen tundra of Green Bay winters, she relocated to Camarillo, California where she initially struggled to enjoy the dreamy California weather. “It’s the same here every day,” she said with mild frustration. But just six months later when asked to move to Salt Lake City, she exclaimed that she couldn’t leave because she loved the weather in California. “It’s the same here every day!”

She spent her final years surrounded by sunshine and peace. She will be remembered by her children as the best pie maker the world has ever known. She will also be known deep Catholic faith, for the grace and humor with which she faced the challenges left behind by the stroke, for her perseverance, and her abiding love of books and travel.

Betty Lou is survived by two siblings, Janet Hermer and Clem Saalfeld, six children, Ray Huelskamp (Mari), Willamarie Huelskamp (Ira Rubinfeld), Bob Huelskamp (Marketa), Elizabeth Huelskamp, Jeanne Huelskamp, and Theresa Huelskamp. Her legacy also lives on in six grandchildren, Marika, Jamie, Sonia, Nicole, Anika, and Charlie, as well as two great grandchildren, Hadley and JP. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Clement Saalfeld, her sister Kay Hynes, husband Ray Huelskamp, and three beloved daughters: Rose, Ann, and Linda.