Betty was born April 16, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Edgar and Augusta (Peterson) Fossum. She attended and graduated from Central High School in Norwood Young America. A highlight of her years at Central was her delivery of an Armistice Day speech that was so acclaimed that it was printed in the Congressional record. Also during high school, she developed an interest in portrait and landscape painting, and so went on to attend the Gene Hundertmark School of Art in Minneapolis. After her art education she shifted direction and took a full time job operating the front desk at the Minneapolis Tribune. On June 9, 1951, her life took another turn when she married Victor Vriesen (a seminary student in Wisconsin) at St Paul E & R Church in Hamburg. She worked part time while he finished seminary, and then they took a call at the Bethany E & R Church in Ledyard, where they labored together for the Lord for 40 years. Betty was a homemaker and partner in Vic’s ministry. She taught Sunday School, and Bible school for years, she was a Catechism assistant, and church secretary for much of her time at Bethany. If that were not enough, she continued work in the arts. She wrote, publishing short stories for kids in Christian magazines; she made visual art: sewing, quilting, cross stitch, often her own designs. She would draw out the design, make it, and then publish the design in craft and sewing magazines. After retirement, and as the years passed, she became less and less able to do all these activities, but she never stopped doing her main ministry: prayer. She had a long list, and she would pray for everybody, often: for everyone she knew, as well as many she didn’t know. She was, truly, a prayer warrior. Betty loved being a mom, grandma, and great-grandma, happily greeting every new member of the family. And she loved her husband. Thursday, June 9, marks their 71st anniversary, celebrated, finally, in their eternal home. Surviving Betty are her children, Jeff (Sharon), Merry (Randy) McGowen, and Beth (Dave) Klope; grandchildren, Brian (Beth) Vriesen, Erin (Marty) Oian, Kathie (RJ) Linder, Bob (Karrie) Owen, Micah (Katie) McGowen, Jon (Kristin) McGowen, Kayla (Nic) Ollila, Josh (Elisa) Klope, Rachel Klope; great-grandchildren, Macie, Lanie, and Benjamin Oian, Blake and Barrett Vriesen, Gavin and Olivia Owen, Preslie, Haddie and Cormac Linder, Parker, Jamison, Mercedes, Cade and Anders McGowen, Khloe and Liam McGowen, Ryken Ollila and Emmett Klope; and dear nieces and nephews David, Joy, Barb, Nancy, Jon, Tim and Pete. She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, Otto and Alberta (Hayn) Vriesen; brother, Orville (Buddy) Fossum, and husband Victor. In lieu of flowers, memorials to UHD Hospice, Interfaith Caregivers, Faith Lutheran Brethren Church in Blue Earth or Bethany Evangelical and Reformed Church in Ledyard would be appreciated. www.pattonfh.com

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