Betty Jean Benson

Betty Jean Benson, age 97 of Spring Grove passed away at Tweeten Lutheran Healthcare on May 28, 2019, surrounded by her family. Betty was born on October 13, 1921 in Bemidji, Mn to Herman and Selma (Goldberg) Funk. She was brought to Holy Baptism; Much later during Betty’s Sophomore year, she went to Spring Grove to live with her aunt and uncle Palma and Fred Anderson, while she was there she took Confirmation classes at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she later confirmed her faith. Betty returned home and later graduated from Hebron High School in Hebron, ND in 1939. Following graduation, Betty attended business school in La Crosse, WI, then moved to Laurel, MT and worked in the office at the Cenex Refinery. She then decided to pursue a career in nursing and graduated nurses’ training from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings, MT in 1947. Betty furthered her education in obstetrics in Milwaukee, WI. She also worked in polio hospitals in Chicago and New Mexico. After New Mexico she decided to travel and ended up working in New Orleans, LA It was in New Orleans that Betty met up with Verdel Benson, who she casually knew from attending confirmation in Spring Grove. They started dating and ended getting married in La Crosse, WI on September 17, 1950. Betty worked as a nurse at Lutheran Hospital until moving to Spring Grove in 1952. In Spring Grove she worked as a nurse, eventually as director of nursing and then as Hospital Administrator until she retired in 1983. Betty was instrumental in the planning and construction of the “new” Tweeten Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home which was built in 1963. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove and the Spring Grove American Legion Auxiliary. Following her retirement, Betty became very active in volunteer work with the Spring Grove Library and the Garden Club. Betty was honored to be named “ Mest Hoyaktet Dame” during the 1988 Syttende Mai Celebration. Betty is survived by her children, Virginia (Dennis) Karlsbroten, Decorah, IA; Carol (Michael) Sherburne, Spring Grove, MN. Grandchildren, Daniel (Jill) Oakes, Matthew Oakes, and Sarah (Eric) Ostern; Brent (Jessica) Sherburne, Kelly (Jake) Waugh; great-grandchildren Danielle, Jason and Logan Oakes; Madilyn and Gavin Ostern; and Claire and Jadyn Sherburne; Brother-in-law Paul (Mary) Benson. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Bud (Margaret) Funk and Paul (La Verna) Funk and a sister Rosemarie (Bob) Johnson; Bother-in-law Alden (Ione) Benson and Leland Benson.

Betty Jean Benson

October 13, 1921 - May 28, 2019