Elizabeth "Betty" A. Brandt

Betty Brandt was born to Carl and Maren (Ravn) Mathiason on October 25, 1914 at Alden, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Danish Lutheran Church in Alden. She attended eight years of country school in rural Alden. At age 16 she traveled to Alberquque, New Mexico to an aunt’s home. Later she came to Tyler to visit her grandparents, Hans Lauritsen, and found work at various homes in Tyler. She was introduced to John Brandt and they were married May 9, 1936 at Alden. Their union was blessed with two daughters and 41 years of life together. The couple farmed near Tyler, Minnesota until they retired and moved to a house on the west side of Tyler in 1975. Betty continued to live in their Tyler home following John’s death in 1977. In 1998 she moved to the Danebod Village apartments. She became a resident of Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in 2009. After a fall on Wednesday, October 16, 2012, she died there on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the age of 97 years, 11 months, and 26 days.

Betty was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler, where she was active in the women’s group (WELCA) and with a group that made quilts for missions and other recipients. She was a member of the Tyler Senior Citizens. She enjoyed her church activities and visiting with friends and family, as well as reading, quilting, flowers and gardening.

Betty is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Eileen Holt of Marshall, MN, and Jane (Sherm) DeZeeuw of Tyler, MN; grandchildren Kristi Peters of Tyler, MN, and Debra (Jim) Kerkaert of Russell, MN; great-grandchildren Matthew (Robbyn) Kerkaert, Stephanie Kerkaert, Erin, Jeffrey and Michael Peters; great-great-grandchildren Jackson, Justin, and Jettison Kerkaert; sister Dagmar Jacobsen of Rice Lake, WI; sisters-in-law Stella and Ardis Mathiason of Alden, MN, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; parents Carl and Maren Mathiason, two infant grandchildren; sisters Valborg Smith, Astrid Mathiason, Hilda Duncan; brothers Anker and Arnold Mathiason; son-in-law Arvid Holt, father and mother-in-law, Frank and Frances Brandt. Blessed be her memory!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First English Lutheran Church organ fund, Ridgeview Hospice, and Sunrise Manor Activity Fund.