Betty Burtness was born January 20, 1928 in Milwaukee, WI to Thorstein and Ruth Burtness. She grew up with her brother Thorstein, Jr. in Oak Park, Illinois where she graduated from high school. She attended Wheaton College and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. She taught as an adjunct professor at Wheaton for one year followed by three years at York High School in Elmhurst. In April of 1951 she married Gunther "Bud" Knoedler. They lived in Wheaton since 1965 where she was active in her church and was a teacher of women's Bible studies for 40 years. Together they had three children (Ruth, Rick, James).

She was a member of the Board of Trustees of Windsor Park Retirement Community for 18 years. She was named the 2004 Alumna of the Year at Wheaton College in recognition of her involvement with the Alumni Association and Wheaton College Women's Club. A strong supporter of Wheaton College, three scholarships are named in her honor. Betty Knoedler, age 85, died on December 22, 2013.

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