I wanted to express my heartfelt condolences to Wild owner Craig Leipold and his entire family after their beloved Betty Jo Leipold, Craig's mom, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 89.

Betty Jo was married to her husband, Werner "Lefty" Leipold, for 65 years.

Betty Jo was in great health, but she had a cardiac arrest during hip surgery resulting from a fall in a parking lot walking into church Thursday, Craig Leipold said.

Leipold left after the Wild's game in Philadelphia on Thursday night to be with her.

"She was the kindest, nicest lady you could ever meet," Leipold said. "The family is devastated."

In early October, Leipold invited some reporters down to his suite to watch an exhibition game. Columnist Jim Souhan wrote a column on the Leipold family that can be read here.

Here is Betty Jo's obituary.

My thoughts are with the entire family.