Betty Wilson

Betty Jane Wilson, 94, Fargo, ND, died Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Bethany Retirement Living on University Drive in Fargo.

Betty Wilson was born Feb 7, 1928, to Helga and Harry Albert near Erie, ND.  She was the oldest of five children. Betty attended the nearby Hill School for one year before the family moved to a farm south of Erie and went to school there until her senior year. She then moved to Hunter, ND, and worked for Goss Electric and the Hunter Telephone Company. Upon graduation from Hunter High School in 1946, she moved to Fargo and attended Dakota Business College. Betty graduated with a business major and went to work for Central Lumber Company. She worked hard throughout her life and held a variety of positions with construction companies, including Sherwood Lumber, Curtis Construction Co, and Peterson Products until retirement in 1991.

In 1947, while working as a waitress at the Iverson Café, she met Warren W. Wilson, who offered to give her a ride home during a storm after work in his1937 Lafayette Nash. The couple then went dancing at the Crystal Ballroom.  They were married May 13, 1950, at First Lutheran Church in Fargo and remained active members throughout their lives. They developed many friendships throughout their years together with whom they danced, laughed, and played cards. 

Betty was very active as a working wife and mother. Together with Warren, they raised five sons and instilled a strong sense of family and a productive work ethic. They kept their sons busy with sports (rarely missing a game), music lessons, Boy Scouts, paper routes, and jobs. They also acquired apartment buildings and worked with their sons to maintain them.  

In 1968, they purchased a cabin on Big Cormorant Lake with the thought that it would keep the family close and together. It was successful in that their sons have property on Big Cormorant, and they continue to instill the importance of family togetherness in their kids as well. Throughout her life Betty kept her sisters, brothers, and their offspring close. They celebrated many holidays together, traveled together, camped, and more.  The family farm near Erie was a gathering spot with horseshoes, horseback riding, card playing, with of course, a fair bit of “collegial horseplay.”

Betty is survived by four children, William (Rhonda) Wilson of Fargo, Warren (Sharon) Wilson of Fargo, Wesley (Linda Sue) Wilson of Marcola, Oregon, and Wade (Betty Jo) Wilson of Fargo; 12 grandchildren, Nicole (Bill) Grundel, Korie DeBruin, Stacey Wilson (Carl) Bartel, Erik Wilson, Brandon Wilson, Jennifer (Rob) O’Connell, Kirstin Wilson, Kelsey (Jenoge) Khatter, Regina Wilson, Abigail Wilson, Grace Wilson, Craig Piper; her sister, Harryette Sjursen, and many great grandchildren and great step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Warren, son Wayne, sisters Lorraine (Irie) Kuball, Darlyn (Martin) Sjursen, brother Lowell (Lois) Albert, her brother-in-law, Ralph Sjursen, and nieces Susan and Nancy Sjursen.

The family requests memorial be given to First Lutheran Church Youth and Sons of Norway

Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2022, at First Lutheran Church in Fargo.

Visitation: An hour before the service.

Burial: Erie Cemetery, Erie

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

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