Betty Svingen, age 94, of Plymouth, formerly of Appleton, died Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at her home. Visitation will be held 1-2 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 11, at Zniewski Funeral Home –Vaala Chapel in Appleton. Burial will be in the Appleton City Cemetery.
Betty Jean Larson Svingen was born on November 6, 1925 at the Kaufman Hospital in Appleton, MN to parents Oscar S. Larson and Mabel I. Carl Larson. In 1930 the family moved to Morris where Betty attended K, 1st, 2nd grade. On her 8th birthday the family moved to the Gardner farm NE of Ortonville in an area known as Pleasant Valley. Betty was baptized when she was 14 on April 14, 1940, by Rev. John L. Parish at the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church. Betty attended third through 12th grade at the Ortonville Public School. She continued her education with a one-year teacher’s training course at the Ortonville High School and then taught country school in School District 34, Big Stone County for one school year, 1944-45.
Betty and her parents moved from Pleasant Valley to Minnesota Farms Drywood farm in January, 1945, and then moved into Appleton in the Spring of 1947. Betty worked for a few months at the Westergard Bakery in 1947 and then went to work for David and Willard Evans at the Appleton Farm Equipment Co. The business changed hands so she also worked for Clarence Bower, Bob Benson, and Irvin Witte until June, 1951. In 1955 Betty went to work as bookkeeper for the Appleton Co-op Elevator and worked there for 30 years when the Appleton Elevator consolidated with Western Consolidated.
Betty was married to Clifford Oren Svingen on Sept. 2, 1950 at the Congregational parsonage by Rev Marvin L. Thompson. Although Betty never drove a car, she enjoyed riding on the back of a Harley Davidson or BMW motorcycle with her husband! On September 28, 1951 their only child Bonnie Lou was born. Clifford’s sudden death by a stroke at age 50 in 1977 taught Betty to live one day at a time, relying on God as her strength.
Betty was a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church from the time it started in 1955 until it closed in November of 1999. She taught a beginner’s Sunday School class for many years, was president of the FCWM, church treasurer and choir member. She also helped the church women tie quilts, made lap robes and crib quilts for the Free Church missions. Back in the 1960s Betty was part of a trio with Esther Christensen and Thelma Persen. Together with their daughters as a double trio they were invited to sing on a program called “Echos from Calvary” with the Rev. David Martin on Channel 7 in Alexandria.
Betty’s hobbies included reading, embroidery, sewing and quilting – making numerous quilts enjoyed by her family members. She loved anytime she could spend with the grandchildren.
Betty’s goal was to live independently as long as possible in the small community of Appleton which she loved. She moved to the metro area in April of 2015 after hip surgery to be closer to her daughter, Bonnie. She made that adjustment very courageously and with a pleasant outlook as she lived by these words: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3; 5-6
Betty went home to be with her Lord and Savior very peacefully on December 31, 2019. She was preceded in death by one baby brother, her parents, her husband, and one great-granddaughter Josephine. She is survived by her daughter Bonnie, granddaughters Janet and Elizabeth, great grandsons Charles, Lawrence, and Liam. She is survived by her daughter Bonnie (Marvin) Mohr, granddaughters Janet and Elizabeth, great-grandsons Charles, Lawrence, and Liam, other relatives and friends.
