Mary E. "Betty" Holtegaard
Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Holtegaard, 88 of Rochester passed away on January 21, 2015 at her home, surrounded by her family, following a short battle with cancer.
Mary Elizabeth Rodgers was born on January 24, 1926 in Spokane, WA, daughter to William and Rhoda (Childs)Rodgers. She came to Chatfield, MN with her parents in the summer of 1927 to visit relatives. The family decided to remain in Chatfield, and purchased a farm soon after.
Betty attended country school, then graduated from Chatfield High School in 1943. She went on to become a teacher, receiving her Teaching Certificate from the Preston Teacher Training Department in 1944. She was a country school teacher for district 118 of Fillmore County.
Betty married Raymond Norman Holtegaard on June 25, 1947 in a candlelight service at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Chatfield, MN. In 1949 Mary and Raymond bought a farm northeast of Rochester, where they farmed and raised three boys.
Betty was an active 4-H leader for Olmsted County and the Dresser Valley 4-H Club. She especially enjoyed advising the Foods/Baking Project, helping with the Poultry Project, and leading the one-act play. Mary belonged to Calvary Episcopal Church in Rochester, helping to bake their famous fruitcakes and organize their fundraising rummage sales.
She also enjoyed traveling with friends, reading, bird-watching, gardening, farming, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Betty is preceded in death by her husband Raymond and her brother Jack Rodgers.
She is survived by two brothers, Robert (Grace) Rodgers and Norman Rodgers, a sister-in-law Jane Rodgers, her three sons, David Holtegaard of San Bernardino, CA, Steven (Pam) Holtegaard of Rochester, Roger (Melinda) Holtegaard of Rochester, grandchildren Paulien (Jayson Rosenwald) Holtegaard, Courtney (Paul) Stellpflug, Nathan (Katherine) Holtegaard, Alisa Holtegaard, Portia (Zach) Seckerson, Annabelle Holtegaard, Marjorie Holtegaard, great-grandchildren Jayden and Charlie Rosenwald, Molly and Hannah Brazfield, Elizabeth Holtegaard, and Regan Stellpflug.
The funeral service for Betty was held at 12:00pm on Monday, January 26, 2014 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home (1119 11 1/2 Street SE Rochester, MN). The funeral was officiated by the Rev. Nicklas Mezacapa (rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in Rochester). Visitation were held two hours prior to the start of the service in the River Park Chapel. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery Rochester.
Macken Funeral Home is handing the arrangements, and online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
