Bette Christensen

Bette Jane Christensen, 90, of Campbell, MN passed away on Monday, June 18, 2018, at her residence in Twin Town Villa, Breckenridge, MN. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 21, 2018, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 22, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church of Doran, MN with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Campbell, MN.

Bette was born in Lawrence Township, MN on May 7, 1928, to Lewis and Mabel (Jandt) Symonds. She grew up and attended country school in Grant County until 8th grade and later, graduated from Elbow Lake High School. After graduating in 1946, she pursued her associate in education at Moorhead State Teacher’s College in Moorhead, MN. During her time at the university, Bette taught at a country school for one year in Grant County.

She was united in marriage to Ralph Christensen on June 26, 1954, at Lawrence Presbyterian Church near Wendell, MN. They lived most of their life on the family farm west of Campbell where Bette spent the next period of her life raising her children, Doug and Sheri. They resided on the farm for nearly 40 years before moving to Campbell in 1993. Bette helped enrich the lives of everyone she encountered; she baked pastries, particularly donuts, and brought them to the staff at the Campbell school. Children had a special place in her heart and she dedicated herself to teaching Sunday school and Bible school at Doran for over 50 years.  In return, she felt immense pride and joy.

Bette enjoyed gardening and had a beautiful flower and vegetable garden. When she wasn’t gardening, she was inviting friends and family to the house where there was never a shortage of wonderful food, especially her pecan pie. She also enjoyed sewing and crocheting. Most of all, she loved her family and she raised her children on strong values and a steadfast faith in the Lord.

Bette will be greatly missed by her husband of 63 years, Ralph Christensen of Campbell, MN; her son, Doug (Alana) Christensen of Campbell, MN and his children, Bethany and Mariah; her daughter, Sheri (Mark) Weston of Fargo, ND and her children, Mikayla, Samantha and Jordan; and her two sisters, Arlene Symonds of Ft. Wayne, IN and LaDonna Johnannessohn of Ft. Wayne, IN.

Bette is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Mabel (Jandt) Symonds; her brother, Kenneth Symonds; and her sister, Elda Symonds.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to Make-A-Wish Foundation.