IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIALS PREFERRED TO ALZHEIMER's OR RICE HOSPICE.
Betty Jane was born on July 13, 1934 to Morris and Marie Mitteness of rural Benson. Betty was the 7th of 11 children, attended rural grade school, and graduated in 1952 from Benson High, where she was mighty proud to have played the Tuba in band. She was baptized and confirmed at Swift Falls Lutheran Church. Betty graduated from Teacher’s College in St. Cloud in 1953, and taught one year at a rural school outside of Volga, SD. On June 12, 1954 Betty and Alfred Jr. were united in marriage at Swift Falls, and were blessed with 57 years together before “Junior” died on Oct. 5, 2011. For most of those years they farmed in Louriston township. Following their active farming career, they moved North to Pequot Lakes for 12 years, before returning to Clara City in 1999. Betty took great pride in the accomplishments of her six children and ten grandchildren, whether it be in a school athletic event, musical production at church or a 4-H achievement. She thoroughly enjoyed helping her kids prepare for and then watching them show livestock or display their works at the Chippewa county (and the state fair) where she also served as an adult leader and advisor. Betty was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran church where she taught Sunday school and belonged to the ladies aid circle club. While at Pequot Lakes, Betty was the tour coordinator for “Junior’s” winter horse drawn sleigh rides, baked her famous pies, and enjoyed her time as one of the school lunch ladies. Betty was also famous for the beautiful, hand stitched (with love) quilts for her children, grandchildren and many others. Betty loved to entertain, whether at home or at the Green Lake cabin, and was appreciated for her delicious spreads of authentic German and Norwegian dishes and plentiful holiday treats. She always invited everyone, and the coffee was always on up North or in Clara City.
Betty is survived by six children, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren: Alan (and Lori) of Clara City and their two children, Ross of Mankato, and Beci (and fiancé Jeff Eliason) of Mpls; Janet Nelson (and Doug) of Rochester, and their two children, Tony (Malissa) and Uriah and Ari, and Jenna of Mpls; Chris (and Nancy) of Spicer, and their three children, Eric (and Lauren) of Jenks, OK, Shawn (and Lynae) of Spicer and Clara, Angela Remily (and Brad) of Doland, SD and Jackson and Kate; Jon of Drummond, OK; Mary Larsen (and Al) of Spicer, her three children, Matthew Skoglund (and Saylor) of Pensacola, FL, Megan Skoglund of Spicer, and Michael Skoglund of Fargo; and Pete of Harrisville, MI.
Also surviving are three brothers, Donald (and Lois) of Benson, David of Benson, and Morris (and Mac) of Corvallis, MT, two sisters, Donna Mae (and Bill) Preece of New Richmond, WI, and Carol of New York, brother and sister-in-laws Harold and Sharon Petersen of Murdock, and Joyce and Vern Youngren of Battle Lake, plus many nephews, nieces, and other family and friends.
Betty was a loving, caring, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2011, four brothers, Gerhard, Raymond, Milton, and Jim, and sister Margaret Kolstad.