Betty A. Bloomquist

Betty A. Bloomquist, 91 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Monday, May 13, 2019 at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck.

Betty Ann Ryan was born on the family farm seven miles east of Devils Lake on February 10, 1928. She was the fourth of six children born to William and Annie (Polis) Ryan. Betty went to country school through 8th grade and graduated from Devils Lake Central High School in the class of 1945. She then attended NDSU, with her eye on a career working in the test kitchens of Betty Crocker. An episode of ill health led to her withdrawal from the university, and she returned to Devils Lake, where she then lived, loved, and worked her entire life.

Betty and Jim Bloomquist were married at St. Olaf Lutheran Church on June 24, 1951, and they made their first home together in Lakewood Park, dreaming of someday owning a farm. That dream eventually became a reality with the purchase of the farm on the shore of East Bay that had once belonged to the Ryan family. They farmed and ranched together, with their Hereford cattle a shared activity that they both enjoyed so much.

When Jim passed away in 1985, Betty returned to school to earn certification as an Accredited Records Technician from St. Scholastica College, Duluth, MN using her training in her job as the medical records director at the Lake Region Lutheran Home. During all those years, she and her son Curt worked together on the farm. She retired from her town job in 1995, in time to enjoy some wonderful trips with her siblings and many visits to see her two grandsons, who gave her the nickname Gramsey from Ramsey. She never, however, hung up her boots for farming and ranching until she had to, insisting that she would rather wear out than rust out.

Betty was an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and served on the church council. She also belonged to Sigma Psi Chapter of Kappa Delta, and Olive Branch Rebekah Lodge #9. Much of her spare time was spent sharing her flowers, garden produce, baked goods and kindness with other people, and she knew a lot of people. She loved classical music and opera; fixing fence, working cattle, driving truck and tractor; sewing and gardening; and learning new things. 

Betty supported the Lake Region Community College from its beginning, taking classes from upholstery to tailoring, anatomy and art, and planted flowers to beautify the grounds. Betty also enjoyed and supported Lake Region Community Concerts and the Devils Lake Orchestra, as well as volunteered with the Dakota Maritime Museum and Bull Session, Ramsey County Health Services during flu shot clinics and many other causes. If she could lend a hand, she would.

Betty is survived by her son Curtis (CJ) Bloomquist (Vonda Markestad); daughter Caryl and son-in-law Robert Rutten; grandsons Logan (Heather) Rutten and Lucas Rutten; sisters, Jeanne (Louis) Moore; and Beverly Hoveland; sister-in-law Alta Bloomquist and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jim; sisters Kathryn (Frederic) Hayes, Etta (Maurice) Hatten; and brother William (Stephanie) Ryan; sister-in-law Ione (Norman) Jennings; and brothers-in-law Kenneth Hoveland; Carl Bloomquist; and Dale Bloomquist. 

Funeral Services for Betty will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Jim Paulson officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

Memorials may be directed to Lake Region State College Foundation, Area Community Foundation or St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

Serving as Casket Bearers for Betty will be Mike Hilgers, Tory Haugland, Brad Beckstrand, Brian Kraft, Jim Reynolds, Dean Markestad and Jon Brown.

Honorary Casket Bearers are Norman Morken, Rodney Brown, Don Daniels, Gerald Dimmler, Doug Ginther and John Hougen.