BETTY J BROSCHAT

Betty J. Broschat, 88, of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Sunday afternoon, September 22, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake with her loving family by her side. Betty Jean Bickle was born to Harry and Maggie Mae (Grainger) Bickle on March 14, 1925 at Maddock, ND, the youngest of eight children. She moved with her family over an eight year period to Montana, Michigan, ND and ultimately to Cathay, ND where she attended grade school and graduated from high school in 1943. She then moved to Fargo, ND where she managed a lunch counter at the Cass County Courthouse. She returned to Cathay in the fall of 1945 and in June 1946 married her high school sweetheart, Fred Broschat, in the Cathay Methodist Church. The couple moved to Fargo in October 1946 where Fred would finish college. They moved to Devils Lake in 1948 where they made their home and raised three daughters. As a young girl in the Methodist Sunday School, she was greatly impressed by her teacher to do as much as she could, for all the people she could, as much of the time as she could. From the age of 9 or 10 years she helped her neighbors by running errands, dusting furniture, etc. In high school she was asked to help three families where mothers had had surgery or new babies, cooking, cleaning and caring for 3 to 4 children. She also fixed hair for her mother’s friends and babysat for neighbors and church friends. In high school she taught Sunday School and played piano for church services. After their marriage, Betty and Fred had extended family in their home over several years, including her widowed sister and young daughter, her father, and a niece whose mother was stricken with multiple sclerosis. As a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, Betty taught and played piano for Sunday School, served on various church committees, and held both local and district offices in United Methodist Women. She was a leader of Brownies and Girl Scouts, President of PTA, and a member of Rebekah Lodge, Federated Women’s Club, RSVP and the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. Betty worked at the Ramsey Courthouse lunchroom and in the fabric departments at Fab and Trim and J.C. Penney. After her retirement in 1987, she volunteered her time among Meals on Wheels, Senior Center Foot Care, Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop, and providing fellowship and transportation to church friends and others. Betty truly loved watching the sporting activities of her grandchildren Molly and Alex and their friends and was able to attend most of those events up until this year. When granddaughter Ashley lived in England, Betty enjoyed hearing of Ashley’s experiences in the place of Betty’s heritage. Preceding her in death were her husband, Fred in 1983, five sisters, two brothers, five brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, two nieces and three nephews. Betty is survived by daughters Marcia (Jack) Ulrich, Sequim, WA, Nancy (Perry) Lundon, Devils Lake and Rev. Lori Broschat, Devils Lake; granddaughters Molly Lundon, Fargo, Ashley Gleed, Devils Lake and grandson Alex (Jocelyn) Lundon, Devls Lake, sister-in-law, Virginia Bickle and many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. Funeral Services for Betty will be held on Friday, September 27, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake, ND with Rev. Mark Ellingson, Chaplain at Altru Hospital officiating. Betty will be laid to peaceful rest in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Friday at the church one hour prior to services. Honorary Bearers for Betty will be Perry Lundon, Molly Lundon, Ashley Gleed, Alex Lundon, Jocelyn Lundon and Greg Otis. Music will be provided by Donovan Foughty, soloist and Lynda Pearson, organist.