East Grand Forks - Vera Betts, 86, of East Grand Forks, died Tuesday, May 5, 1998 at the Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at the Mendenhall Presbyterian Church in East Grand Forks. Burial was in the Resurrection Cemetery in East Grand Forks. The Stennes Funeral Home of East Grand Forks was in charge of the arrangements.
Vera Laidley was born on April 4, 1912 in Manvel, ND, the daughter of Joshua and Susan (Shane) Laidley. She graduated from East Grand Forks High School in 1930.
On December 7, 1932 Vera was united in marriage to Lewis William Betts in East Grand Forks. She was employed at Nelson Drug and Silverman's Clothing, both in Grand Forks, ND. She and Lewis owned and operated Brownie Cleaners in East Grand Forks.
The lake home Vera and Lewis built in 1966 on the Rainy River near Baudette became Birch View Resort from 1967 until 1977. Retiring from their jobs, the Betts moved to Baudette to manage the resort. They spent their winters in McAllen, TX.
In 1977 they sold the resort and lived in Baudette for a few years before returning to East Grand Forks in 1982.
Vera entered the Good Samaritan Home in East Grand Forks in 1994. During last year's flood, she was evacuated to Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls before being transferred to Good Samaritan Home in Barnesville. At the end of 1997, she entered Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead.
She enjoyed fishing, sewing, and sports, especially Vikings football.
Vera is survived by her husband, Lewis; one son, Ronald of Denver, CO; two daughters, Carol Rodvold of Newfolden and Sharon (Wesley) Sauer of Fargo, ND; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, seven sisters and two brothers.