Betty V. (Rolien) Cedergren

           Betty Veronne Cedergren, 87, of Cambridge, formerly of Spring Lake/North Branch passed away on October 8, 2019 at Parmly on The Lake in Chisago City.

           She was born May 26, 1932 in a room upstairs above the creamery in Sunberg, Minnesota the first of two children to Edner and Effie (Ek) Rolien.  In 1936 the family moved to Murdock for a short time then to Kerkhoven where Betty graduated from High School in 1950.

            After graduating, Betty attended St. Cloud State where she graduated on a 2-year provisional certificate and received her B.S. in Education in 1971.  She taught first grade in Rush City.  While roller skating at Moulton’s Roller Rink in Rush City, she met a recently discharged Army veteran named John Cedergren.  They would marry July 30, 1955 in Kerkhoven.

            The couple made their home on Maryland Avenue in St. Paul and she taught combination 1-2 grade at North Heights School.  They had three children Mark (1957), Alan (1959) and Karen (1961).  In 1965 they went as a family to serve with the Lutheran Board of World Missions for 3 years as house parents for missionary children in Liberia, West Africa. Returning to MN, Betty taught 2nd grade in North Branch for 10 years. In 1981, John and Betty moved to Broken Arrow, OK for a year as John attended RHEMA Bible Training Center. In 1983, John, Betty and Karen responded to the missionary call of God and founded a Bible School in the Philippines. The school is now 36 years old and being led by Karen Cedergren, who also pastors AGAPE Christian Centre in Zurich, Switzerland.

            Betty and John served with the American Legion Post 139 in Harris, MN. They were active in cooperation with the Pregnancy Resource Center of Cambridge and attended River of Life Church also in Cambridge. Betty enjoyed knitting, sewing, scrap booking, traveling, teaching and being with her family. Their trips to Switzerland each winter, to escape the ice and snow of Minnesota, were special times of fellowship with the church family at AGAPE.

            Betty’s last legacy work was the publication of a children’s book, called “Read Along With Me”. The publish date was September 3, 2019.

            Betty was preceded in death by her parents, son Alan in 1991, and husband John on September 22, 2019.   She is survived by son Mark (Beth) Cedergren of North Branch, daughter Karen Cedergren of Switzerland, daughter-in-law Heidi Cedergren of Sioux Falls, SD, four grandchildren Melissa (Patrick) Gregory, Aaron (Amy) Cedergren, Andrew Cedergren, Molly (Thad) Jockheck, two great grandchildren Jacqueline and Bennett Gregory, brother Jon (Jean) Rolien of California, as well as other relatives and friends.

            A Memorial Service will be held at 11AM, Saturday, November 2, 2019 at Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be in Spring Lake Lutheran Cemetery.

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