Betty Crocker Director Marcia Copeland Enjoys Active, Engaged Lifestyle at Trillium Woods
Betty Crocker may not live at Trillium Woods, but the senior living community in Plymouth, MN, is home to the next best thing. During her 35-year-long career at General Mills, resident Marcia Copeland contributed her considerable talents to improving, developing, and representing the iconic Betty Crocker brand.
Copeland’s career began almost immediately after she graduated from college with a major in home economics and a minor in English. At just 21 years old, she interviewed with General Mills on a Thursday and began working the next day. Initially hired as an editor, Copeland soon moved into recipe development. Over the years she was promoted and held many different roles within the department — eventually leading a team of 50 people as Director of Betty Crocker Kitchens.
Her staff developed the Betty Crocker Cookbook series, completed the food preparation and styling for General Mills commercials, followed and reported on trends in food preparation and consumption, and developed and tested directions and recipes for new and existing products.
“I was one of the lucky ones,” she reflects, acknowledging how fortunate she was to find a fulfilling career so early in life.
Reinventing and Representing Betty Crocker
One of her favorite parts of the job was updating the Betty Crocker Cookbook. A staple in American kitchens, the “Big Red” cookbook, published new editions every five to seven years. Copeland ensured that each edition stayed relevant, balancing classic recipes with new trends. “Each edition needed to consist of at least one-third new recipes and stay current with evolving tastes and the cooking habits of real American households,” she explains.
Now in its 13th edition, the Betty Crocker cookbook has sold more than 75 million copies.
Among her duties, Copeland spent weeks on the road, doing media tours to promote the cookbook and new products. “I’d do five morning shows a day in one city and then fly to the next.” During these television appearances, the hosts often mistook Copeland for the iconic — and fictional — Betty Crocker herself.
After retiring from General Mills in 1999, Copeland continued to embrace life with the same enthusiasm she brought to her career, this time turning her attention to civic activities, serving on boards, and helping nonprofits with strategic planning. “I’ve been given so much,” she says. “I feel I have an obligation to give back — but it also enriches my life, as well.”
Choosing Trillium Woods and Thriving
When she and her husband were looking for a senior living community, they were quite thorough in their search. “We visited 14 places,” Copeland explains. “John made a spreadsheet comparing all aspects of each of the communities, from amenities to ceiling heights.”
The couple chose Trillium Woods nine years ago and have never looked back. “We calculated that it had everything we needed to live comfortably and our appreciation for it has only grown,” she says. “The staff is impressively thoughtful. There’s always something interesting to do, from fascinating lectures and fun parties. The high quality of the food was a welcome surprise —the chefs take such pride in their work. And we’ve made many new friends here — which is truly rare and precious later in life. It also keeps us close to our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters, who live nine miles away.”
Copeland participates regularly in exercise classes and continues to hone her literary skills in Trillium Woods’ Writing Group. She’s written whimsical tales about the mysterious proliferation of coat hangers in a closet and a plastic bag tangled on barbed wire, as well as a children’s story, “Seven Swans,” inspired by a very real brood of cygnets and their parents that Copeland observed on her frequent walks around nearby Lake Camelot.
“Trillium Woods was the right choice for us,” she says. “We’ve been able to stay active, live well, make new connections, and stay close to family.”
To see if Trillium Woods is the right choice for you, schedule a tour at https://www.trilliumwoodslcs.com/contact/.