She is very active in her community and is a member of P.E.O., National Foundation for Women Legislators and Harlan First Baptist Church. She has served on the boards of the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, American Baptist Homes of the Midwest Board of Directors. She currently sits on the Midwest Higher Education Commission, Education Commission of the States, and the Iowa Prayer Breakfast Committee.

A former educator, Senator Boettger is now a farmer with her husband, Dave. Together they host a farm bed and breakfast. They reside just outside of Harlan and have four children and twelve grandchildren.