Betty Lou Pyle

Betty Lou Pyle (Lou), 99, died peacefully in Alexandria, MN on Saturday, December 10.

Betty Lou was born to Bertha and Lawrence Thompson in Aneta, ND on September 28, 1923. Her family moved to West Fargo in 1939 and she graduated from West Fargo High School in 1941. She married her high school sweetheart, Ernest G. Pyle, in 1943. Betty Lou and Ernie farmed from 1943 to1977, first on his family’s farm in West Fargo, ND and then near Casselton, ND. Ernie and Betty Lou moved to West Fargo in 1978 and then to Fort Myers, FL in 1988. After 67 wonderful years of marriage, Ernie passed away in 2011. Betty Lou moved to Alexandria MN in 2016. Betty Lou was a past member of Martins American Lutheran Church in Casselton, ND, Faith Lutheran Church in West Fargo, ND, and Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers.

Betty Lou was active in multiple church and civic organizations throughout her life. She was also active in local, state and national politics. She supported Ernie’s campaigns to serve in the ND State Senate from 1966 to 1976 and chaired his campaign for lieutenant governor with Dick Elkin in 1976. She went on to serve as one of two North Dakota representatives on the Republican National Committee from 1980-1988. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota from 1978-1984. She also served on the Board of Directors for Bethany Homes in Fargo for six years, including as Chairman of the Board from 1981-1984. Betty Lou earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Dakota State University in 1982.

Betty Lou enjoyed bridge, cooking, traveling and keeping up with her friends. She loved her family and was kept busy attending the graduations, weddings, and sports events of her five children and seventeen grandchildren, to whom she was lovingly known as “Grandma Lou.” She is survived by children Kenneth (Sandra) of Pensacola, FL, Richard (Nathalie) of Captiva, FL, Gerald (Barbara) of Garfield, MN, Robert (Anne) of Casselton, ND, and son-in-law, Neil Anderson (Johanna Rian) of Lakeville, MN; Grandchildren K. Michael, R. Judson, Joshua, Gerald, and Nathaniel Pyle, Angela Milbrandt, Rebecca Davis, Michelle Holcombe, Marin Ellis, Becca Gardner, Katherine Waggoner, Hanne Vaughn, Elicia Moody, Jodi Karnick, Mary Jane Pyle-Smith, Marjorie Broden and Katherine Schlesser; thirty great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. Betty Lou was preceded in death by husband Ernest Gordon Pyle, daughter, Marcia Lynn Pyle, twin sister Betty Jean Pyle, sister Wanda Poirier and brother, Lawrence (Bub) Thompson.

Visitation:  5 to 7pm, followed by a 7pm Prayer Service Friday, June 2, 2023, at the West Funeral Home in West Fargo.

Memorial service: 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, with visitation and hour prior at West Funeral Home Chapel in West Fargo, ND.  

Memorials preferred to: 

Bethany Retirement Living Foundation,

201 University Drive South,

Fargo, ND 58103

Hospice of Douglas County,

809 Elm Street, Suite 1200,

Alexandria, MN 56308.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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