Betty Siverhus
d. December 7, 2014
BettyLou Siverhus was born to Roy and Inez Johnson at her parents’ home in Leenthrop Township, rural Chippewa County, Minnesota on Monday, February 29, 1932. She and her older sister Rosemary were baptized on the farm in 1939. She received her formal education in country school and graduated from Montevideo High School with the Class of 1950.
Growing up on the family farm, Betty helped her parents by taking care of livestock and working in the fields, including learning to drive tractor at the age of 9. She then learned to plow and cultivate.
On June 24, 1950, Betty was married to Vincent Siverhus at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Their union was blessed with five children.
Betty loved living in the country and being involved with her neighbors and close friends. During their marriage, Betty and Vince were very involved with politics and were even invited and attended the Hubert H. Humphrey Inaugural Ball along with State Representatives Harold (Curley) and Ann Dammerman.
In addition to raising her children, Betty worked at Jebb’s Café as a waitress and later worked for the U of M Extension Office in food and nutrition where she helped low income families create healthy meals within a limited budget until that position ended due to budget cuts. She was known as a good cook and enjoyed baking, playing cards, sewing, Birthday Club activities and spending time at the lake with her family and friends. She had a green thumb; growing lots of vegetables and flowers on the farm. Betty adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and wanted them around as much as possible. They could always put a smile on her face.
When Vince became ill, he and Betty reluctantly left the family farm and moved to Montevideo purchasing a home on Black Oak Avenue. After Vince’s death in July 2002, and as her own health began to decline, Betty sold their home and moved in with their daughter Rita and her family. Recently, as her health continued to fail, she became a resident of Luther Haven Nursing Home where she died, on Sunday, December 7th, surrounded by her loving family.
Cherishing her memory are her children: Greg and Bonnie Siverhus of Surprise, AZ; Marge and Don Hering of Montevideo, Theresa Siverhus of St. Paul, Rita and Jason Smith of Montevideo; her grandchildren: (Greg’s children) Jon and Tammy Siverhus, James and Jessica Siverhus; (Marge’s children) Angie Richardson, Jonathon and Michelle DenHartigh; (Paul’s children) Amber and Jeremy Greelis, Nichole and Danny Mahty; (Theresa’s children) Brooke Geving; (Rita’s children) Shane and Anabeth Black, Paul Anderson and Tristan Anderson; stepchildren Trisha and Steve Hering; 21 great grandchildren, 3 nephews and 1 niece; and sister-in-law Ruth Johnson.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vince, her son Paul Siverhus, her grandson Jeff Haff, her brother LeRoy Johnson, her sister Rosemary Johnson, and Vince’s parents: Clarence and Mary Siverhus.
Growing up on the family farm, Betty helped her parents by taking care of livestock and working in the fields, including learning to drive tractor at the age of 9. She then learned to plow and cultivate.
On June 24, 1950, Betty was married to Vincent Siverhus at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Their union was blessed with five children.
Betty loved living in the country and being involved with her neighbors and close friends. During their marriage, Betty and Vince were very involved with politics and were even invited and attended the Hubert H. Humphrey Inaugural Ball along with State Representatives Harold (Curley) and Ann Dammerman.
In addition to raising her children, Betty worked at Jebb’s Café as a waitress and later worked for the U of M Extension Office in food and nutrition where she helped low income families create healthy meals within a limited budget until that position ended due to budget cuts. She was known as a good cook and enjoyed baking, playing cards, sewing, Birthday Club activities and spending time at the lake with her family and friends. She had a green thumb; growing lots of vegetables and flowers on the farm. Betty adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and wanted them around as much as possible. They could always put a smile on her face.
When Vince became ill, he and Betty reluctantly left the family farm and moved to Montevideo purchasing a home on Black Oak Avenue. After Vince’s death in July 2002, and as her own health began to decline, Betty sold their home and moved in with their daughter Rita and her family. Recently, as her health continued to fail, she became a resident of Luther Haven Nursing Home where she died, on Sunday, December 7th, surrounded by her loving family.
Cherishing her memory are her children: Greg and Bonnie Siverhus of Surprise, AZ; Marge and Don Hering of Montevideo, Theresa Siverhus of St. Paul, Rita and Jason Smith of Montevideo; her grandchildren: (Greg’s children) Jon and Tammy Siverhus, James and Jessica Siverhus; (Marge’s children) Angie Richardson, Jonathon and Michelle DenHartigh; (Paul’s children) Amber and Jeremy Greelis, Nichole and Danny Mahty; (Theresa’s children) Brooke Geving; (Rita’s children) Shane and Anabeth Black, Paul Anderson and Tristan Anderson; stepchildren Trisha and Steve Hering; 21 great grandchildren, 3 nephews and 1 niece; and sister-in-law Ruth Johnson.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vince, her son Paul Siverhus, her grandson Jeff Haff, her brother LeRoy Johnson, her sister Rosemary Johnson, and Vince’s parents: Clarence and Mary Siverhus.
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