Betty Ruth Rorem (-2009)

ROREM, OLSON, THORSBAKKEN, LARSON, TEIGLAND

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 1/23/2010 at 13:09:31

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 13, 2010.

Betty Ruth Rorem, age 82 of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at Colonial Acres Nursing Home in Golden Valley, Minnesota on Dec. 24, 2009.

Betty was born to Joseph and Anna (Thorsbakken) Olson in Jewell, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in rural Jewell. Betty graduated from Randall High School in 1944 and attended Iowa State Teachers College from 1944-46. She taught fourth grade in Glidden, Iowa from 1946-48, attended St. Olaf College in 1948-49 and summer school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She taught fourth grade in Fort Dodge, Iowa from 1949-51.

After she married Harold Rorem in 1951 they lived in New Orleans, Louisiana where she sang in a church choir, taught Sunday School, volunteered at
Charity Hospital, and worked as a secretary at an insurance company.

The family moved to Minnesota in 1955. They became charter members of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church where Betty taught Sunday School, played the piano and sang with choirs of all ages. She also sang with the Choristers and served on the boards of the United Prayer Ministries and Hope Of Pilgrims Everywhere (HOPE).

She was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter Zoya.

Betty is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Harold, her brother, Emmett Olson of Story City, and two sisters, Delores Larson (Frederick) of Randall and JoAnn Teigland (Virgil) of Klamath Falls, Oregon. She is also survived and will be dearly missed by children Bruce (Carol), Douglas (Nadine), Steven (Ann), John, Cynthia (David) and grandchildren Garrett, Grant, Nicholas, Joseph, Michael, Taran (Lauren), Sean, Jennifer, and Marina.

The visitation and funeral occurred in Minnesota on December 28th and 29th 2009.

Memorials can be given to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 3726 Nelson Ave., Jewell, Iowa 50130.