Betty Perreault

Betty Joan Perreault passed into Heaven March 26, 2023 at the Bethany on Silver Lake Skilled Nursing Facility in Everett Washington.  She was 93 years old.  Betty was born July 6, 1929, along with her twin brother Bill, to Andrew and Inga Swanson in Brainerd MN.  She grew up in Kelliher, MN and later the family moved to Staples MN.  She graduated from Staples high school in 1947. After high school, she attended Beauty School in Duluth MN because family lived near there.  She graduated in 1948.

While working as a waitress at a café in Crookston MN, she met Robert Perreault.

May 20, 1950 they were married in St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks ND because Bob worked in Grand Forks.  Shortly after they were married, Betty’s mother suffered a stroke so they moved to Staples, bought a house and her parents moved in with them so they could help take care of her mother.  While living in Staples, Diane and Steven were born.  In 1957 they moved to Albert Lea MN where they lived for the remainder of their lives.  Dale, Donald and Barbara were born in Albert Lea. 

Bob and Betty worked to grow a happy, busy family, remodeling the house for everyone.  She was mainly a stay-at-home mom but worked some part time jobs after the kids grew older. Betty made bread often and was a great cook.  Her cinnamon rolls were exceptional!  Meals always consisted of meat and potatoes; everything was homemade. She sewed clothing for the girls.  She was active in the St. Theodore’s School PTA and also church women’s organization.  She helped work at funerals and baked for them when needed. She helped out with clubs the kids belonged to, including 4-H and Girl Scouts. She especially enjoyed visiting with the neighbor ladies and had coffee with her neighbor friends frequently.

Betty loved God, her family and growing flowers, especially roses. 

As the kids grew, Betty and Bob became active with the Grapevine Twist Square Dance Club and traveled all over Minnesota and to various states to square dance.  Every town they stayed in; they found a square-dancing club to join for the evening. They spent winters in Texas where they square danced, sometimes several times a day.  They met many people, including distant relatives and had great friendships. Together they also volunteered at Naeve Hospital.

Over time, Betty suffered many TIAs (mini strokes) and they had to stop square dancing.  Betty and Bob enjoyed a 63-year marriage until Bob passed away in 2013. 

Betty enjoyed visiting her children, especially Don and his wife Pam and their children in Everett WA over the Christmas holidays.  In 2017, she suffered an illness and fell while at Don and Pam’s home.  She was hospitalized and then moved to Bethany on Silver Lake Skilled Nursing Facility in Everett WA where she lived the last 6 years of her life. 

While at Bethany, she enjoyed doing activities with the other residents and her roommate was her best friend until her roommate passed away.  Over time, she suffered additional strokes and deteriorated gradually.  The pandemic was hard on everyone and she was greatly affected by the isolation, which caused her to decline more quickly.  

She is survived by her five children, Diane (Marvin) Nygaard, Steven Perreault, Dale Perreault, Donald (Pam) Perreault and Barb (Wally) Bergseth.  Grandchildren include James Van Riper, Tina (Jeremie) Lutteke, Thomas Van Riper (Katie Lallier), April (Joe) Hyde, Rebecca Nygaard, Zachary Perreault, Arielle Perreault and Nathan Bergseth (Skylar Bengtson) and step grandchildren Danielle and Greg (Karen) Nygaard. There are eight great-grandchildren, Gabriella, Izabella, Jozie and Amelya Hyde; Jadyn, Teagan and Chayce Lutteke; August Bengtson and a great step-granddaughter, Madeline Nygaard.

She is preceded in death by her husband Bob, parents Inga and Andrew Swanson, sister Lila Morris, brothers Clifford, Byron, Jim and twin brother Bill Swanson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be June 24 at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church, Albert Lea MN. Visitation will be 9-10am with Mass at 10am. Burial and luncheon will follow.