A memorial service for the couple will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the First United Methodist Church in New Ulm. Pastor Gary Marzolf will officiate, and burial will follow in the Soldier’s Rest Section of the New Ulm City Cemetery, where full military honors for Kenneth will be provided by the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the First United Methodist Church in New Ulm.

To leave an online condolence for their family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org.

Kenneth and Betty are survived by their son, Steve (Mary) Kohlhepp of Detroit Lakes, and their children, Pete (Tammy) Kohlhepp, and Kayla (Brent) Johnson; their daughter, Jan (Gary) Marzolf of Johnston, Iowa, and their daughter, Shannon (Dan) Winters; their daughter, Paulette Anderson of Bloomington, and her children, Carli (Tom) Mitchell and Sam (Michelle) Huss; their eight great-grandchildren, Joshuah Kohlhepp, River Johnson, Gavin Johnson, Mavrick Johnson, Cole Winters, Chase Winters, Avery Winters, and Lucy Mitchell; Kenneth’s sister, Kathleen (Robert “Bob”) Kruckman of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and nieces, a nephew, relatives and many friends.

The couple was preceded in death by their parents; Kenneth’s sister and brother-in-law, Beverly and Harry Bilderback; and Kenneth’s brother and sister-in-law, Karl and Sylvia Kohlhepp.

Kenneth Laverne Kohlhepp was born Aug. 7, 1928, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Ben and Lorena (Sieg) Kohlhepp. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1946-48, when he was stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea. Ken worked his life as a dedicated truck driver. He began his driving career at Kraft Foods in New Ulm before becoming a self-employed truck driver. He later worked as a driver with the U.S. Postal Service, as well as a bus driver and shuttle driver in his retirement. Besides his work, there were a variety of hobbies he enjoyed in life. He enjoyed spending time tending to his yard and working on cars. He was a member of the New Ulm American Legion.

Betty Lou Sorenson was born Feb. 25, 1932, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Leonard and Luella (Ellingstad) Sorenson. She worked as an interior designer for Design Home Center until she was 80. Betty was a very social person. She always reached out to people with love and kindness. She was known for her famous brownies. Betty served on many committees at the church.

Kenneth Kohlhepp and Betty Sorenson were united in marriage on Sept. 30, 1950, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This union lasted 71 years and blessed the couple with a son and two daughters whom together they predominantly raised in New Ulm. They were active members of the First United Methodist Church for over 64 years and both helped volunteer at the food shelf in New Ulm. As a couple they enjoyed many family vacations, and later the two of them took many trips also. What they enjoyed most in life was time they got to spend with their family and loved getting to see their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. They will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved them. Blessed be their memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to organizations the family chooses.

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