| Obituary from Wilson Funeral Home |
Betty Lou Kolda, 97, of New Gloucester, Maine passed away on June 1st, 2025 in Portland, Maine. She was born Betty Lou Backlin on February 17, 1928 in Holmes City, MN to Sigfred and Olga Backlin. Betty grew up in Minnesota before attending the Minneapolis Business College and graduating in 1945 with a degree in Private Secretarial. She met her husband Donald Edward Kolda at MacPhail Center of Music in Minneapolis where Don was studying. They were married in August 1949 in Minneapolis, MN.
Following their marriage, Don and Betty moved to Cincinnati, OH where they started their lives and family. She was a wife and homemaker while raising their 3 boys. Betty worked a few jobs throughout their growing up years and was an active member of the local Garden Club. As a family they enjoyed bowling, music and sports. She and her husband were volunteers at the local hospital in Cincinnati for many years.
Betty moved to New Gloucester, Maine to live with her son and daughter in law in 2016 following the death of her husband Donald in Oct 2014. Soon after her arrival to New Gloucester she quickly became an active volunteer at the New Gloucester library where she made some great friends. The former library volunteer ladies formed a small social group that they refer to as The Cookie Crunchers, and met monthly to laugh and nibble baked goods at the Pineland Café. Betty attended just a few weeks ago.
Betty was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her son David Edward Kolda and her husband Donald Edward Kolda. Her brothers Robert, Sigfred, and Jim Backlin and niece Sally Lowe (Backlin). Betty is survived by her two sons, Scott Allan Kolda and wife Gail of New Gloucester, Maine. Thomas James Kolda and wife Rebecca, of Cleveland, OH. Her grandsons Zachary David Kolda of Philadelphia, PA, Jacob Seamus Kolda of New Gloucester, Bennett Andrew, Dominic Aaron, and Devon Alexander Kolda all of Cleveland, OH. Her sister Ruth Ann Benson (Backlin) of Minneapolis, MN. Her nieces and nephews Mark Backlin of Lima, Peru, Robert Backlin and Susan Backelin of Minneapolis, and Eric and Dawn Backlin of North Dakota.
There will be a formal Service/Celebration of life held in Cincinnati, OH, and a gathering of friends and family in New Gloucester, Maine. Betty will be laid to rest at Gate Of Heaven Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH alongside her son David and Husband Don of 65 yrs.
— Read the obituary at this link
