Betty Renstrom

Betty Ellen Kopischke Renstrom was born January 17, 1925, at Leader, Minnesota, to Henry and Violet Kopischke. She grew up in northern Minnesota. Betty graduated from Fergus Falls High School and attended Business College in St. Cloud, Minnesota. During WW II, she worked in a defense plant in Tacoma, Washington. Betty met LeRoy (Nels) Renstrom in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and they were married on January 27, 1947. They co-operated a florist shop and greenhouse in Bemidji, Minnesota, for a few years and then moved to Belmont, California. Later, they moved back to Bemidji, where they raised their two children, a son, Gary, and a daughter, Sharon. Betty worked in the Business Office of Bemidji State College and later at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Headquarters in Rochester, Minnesota, as an accountant until retiring in 1984. After retirement, Betty and LeRoy spent summers at a lake home near Bemidji and their winters in Alamo, Texas. Over the years, Betty was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Zion Lutheran Church in Alamo, Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Saint Cloud, and most recently Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rochester. She was active in Ladies Aid, choir, LWML, was charter president of Evening Guild, a Sunday School teacher, and involved in various service projects such as mission quilting. Betty enjoyed oil painting, craft work of all kinds, including hardanger embroidery, quilting, knitting and crocheting. She was a fan of the Minnesota Twins, and she liked crossword puzzles, reading, and licorice ice cream. After the death of her husband, Betty enjoyed travel to Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and the Holy Land. Betty passed away on January 6th, in Rochester. She counted among her life's greatest blessings her children, grandchildren, and the love of family. She is survived by a son, Gary (Jeanette) Renstrom, a daughter, Sharon (Gary) Davidson, three grandsons, Jeffrey (Melissa) Davidson, Brian (Cristina) Davidson, and Patrick (Jayme) Davidson; sixteen great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, two sisters, Phyllis Schmidt, and Karen (Robert) Schley; and numerous nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a sister, Joan (John) Fenske. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Redeemer Lutheran Church (869 7th Avenue SE). Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Elbow Lake Union Cemetery at a later date. To leave a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600