Betty Sakariassen

Betty Ann Sakariassen, 77, Bismarck, died December 22, 2007, at Medcenter One Hospital, Bismarck. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Friday at First Presbyterian Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Jake Kincaid officiating. Private interment will be held at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery, Mandan.Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck.Betty was born August 1, 1930, in Bemidji, MN, to Norwegian immigrant parents, Henry and Marie Petterson Holt. She graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1948 and from the University of North Dakota in 1952, earning a BA in music education.Betty married John Robert Sakariassen on December 19, 1952, and moved with her husband to Fort Bragg, NC, where she taught elementary school. Upon her husband's deployment overseas, she returned to Grand Forks, worked as a secretary, and enrolled in post-graduate vocal training. After his release from active duty, the couple moved to Bismarck.Betty was long active in Bismarck music circles. She served as a substitute music teacher in the public schools, gave private voice lessons and was a vocal instructor at Bismarck Junior College.For many years, she sang in the First Presbyterian Church choir, directed the First Presbyterian youth choir, and later directed the adult choir at First Lutheran Church. She directed several Thursday Music Club choral groups and theatrical productions, and was an accomplished pianist.Betty was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. She was a member and past president of Bismarck-Mandan Thursday Music Club, and a member of chapter AX, PEO and of Current Events Club.Among her many interests were art and music, travel, reading, gardening, golfing, sewing and Hardanger needlework. Her curiosity about her Norwegian heritage and family history led her to pursue extensive genealogical research. She visited Norway and maintained correspondence with relatives there.Betty held a special fondness for her family cottage on Lake Plantagenet, MN, where she enjoyed time shared with friends and family nearly every summer of her life.Central to Betty's life was her family. She took great joy in the achievements and activities of her husband, her children and their spouses, and her grandchildren.She is survived by John, her husband of 55 years; a daughter and son-in-law, Betsy and Horace Nash, San Antonio, TX; a son and daughter-in-law, Erik and Amy Sakariassen, Bismarck, ND; a son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Karen Sakariassen, Detroit Lakes, MN; four grandchildren, Kristi, Michael, Alexander and Emily; two brothers, Arthur and Leif; and eight nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Henry and Lorentz.The family prefers memorials to the First Presbyterian Church, Bismarck or the Medcenter One Foundation.

Betty Sakariassen

August 1, 1930 - December 22, 2007