Betty J. Stevens

Betty J. Hanson Stevens, 89, of Solon, Iowa, formerly of Bismarck, died Saturday, January 18, 2014, at the Solon Nursing Care Center. Services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 25, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Schick officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Betty was born November 30, 1924, in Dawson, ND, the daughter of Eric and Helen Swanson Hanson. Betty attended school in Dawson and graduated with her class of 12 students from Dawson High School in 1942. She briefly attended Business College and worked at a local Bismarck business during WW2. Betty married Glenn V. Stevens of Washburn, ND, on October 19, 1947 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. They farmed for several years near Washburn. Their only daughter Sandra was born on March 12, 1953, in Bismarck. The family soon moved to Bismarck where Betty and Glenn resided for 50 years. She was later employed for over 20 years and retired from the Bureau of Reclamation Government Department of the Interior in the early 80s. Betty's grandchildren held a special place in her heart. They were the joy of her life. She especially loved baking cookies and pumpkin or zucchini bread for them. There were many trips between North Dakota and Iowa in addition to following their activities through letters and phone calls. Betty was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Betty and Glenn enjoyed camping and gardening and playing cribbage. They traveled to the Scandinavian Countries, several Canadian Provinces, and visited 48 states. Betty's hobbies also included knitting, crocheting, reading, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and baking. Left to cherish Betty's memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Kevin Milton of Solon, Iowa; her grandson Ryan, his wife Christina and their first baby due in May; her grandson Scott, his wife Tara and their first baby due in June; and her granddaughter Jessica, her husband Tim and their first baby due in March. Betty is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glenn in 2003; her sister and brother-in-law, Linnea and Jim Hanson; Glenn's brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenyon and Marian Stevens and Jerry and Jane Stevens; and one nephew Ron Stevens. Thank you to all who touched Betty's life. It has been said that "kindness is the overflowing of oneself into the lives of others". In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck.

Betty J. Stevens

November 30, 1924 - January 18, 2014