Betty Lee (Vierkant) DEVRIES

VIERKANT, DEVRIES, MEINDERS, LUNDSTROM, DUNCKLEE, PAYNE, KOLB

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/21/2015 at 15:41:02

July 31, 1947 --- January 14, 2014

Betty Lee DeVries, 67 of Moorhead, MN, died on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at Rosewood on Broadway in Fargo, ND. Betty was born July 31, 1947 in Belmond, Iowa to William and Henrietta (Meinders) Vierkant of Meservey, Iowa. She belonged to First Reformed Church in Meservey and graduated from Meservey-Thornton High School in 1965. She went on to attend Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa and joined Shepard Abstract in Mason City as a legal secretary. On December 20, 1969, she married Robert DeVries in a ceremony at First Reformed Church in Meservey, Iowa. The couple moved to Moorhead, MN in 1973. Betty was hired at Dakota Hospital in Fargo, ND where she worked in both Medical Records and Personnel. In 1977 and 1979, respectively, Bob and Betty adopted their two daughters from Korea, Denby Jean and Korly Anne.

In 1989, Betty was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She started a support group in the Fargo-Moorhead area for newly diagnosed MS patients where she was able to provide people a place of understanding and strength. She continued to be an MS advocate by volunteering with the Upper Midwest Chapter of the MS Society where she enjoyed traveling across the country to other National MS Chapters to meet new people and hear their stories.

Betty loved crocheting, handcrafts, traveling, Jeopardy, jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with Bob and her daughters. She is survived by her husband, Bob DeVries of Moorhead, MN; her daughters, Denby DeVries (Brent Lundstrom) of Harwood, ND and Korly DeVries of Brooklyn, NY; her grandson, Coragan Duncklee of Jefferson City, MO; her sisters, Marianne (Loren) Payne of Belmond, IA and Darcy Kolb of Clear Lake, IA; her brother, William (Kim) Vierkant, Jr. of Alexander, IA and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers and memorial gifts, the family would prefer donations be made on Betty's behalf to the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Visitation will be from 4-7pm Sunday, with a prayer service following at 7pm, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo. The funeral is 10am Tuesday at First Reformed Church, Meservey, IA with visitation being held one hour prior. Burial is in Pleasant View Cemetery, Thornton, IA.

http://www.retzfh.com/10.html