General Information
Full Name: Elizabeth “Betty” Rylander
Date of Birth: October 20, 1921
Date of Death: April 3, 2013
Betty’s life story
Elizabeth “Betty” Rylander
On Thursday, October 20, 1921 in Minneapolis, Elizabeth Helena was born a twin to parents David and Ruth (Good) Leuchovius. The third of six children, her childhood years were spent growing up in Minneapolis. A very close connect family, Betty had this special bond with her twin sister, Ingrid. She was a proud graduate from Roosevelt High School in 1940.
A fantastic baker, Betty loved baking just about anything and best known for her apple pie. It was her baking that sparked an interest of a young man, Warren Clifford Rylander. Telling the parents they were going to go pick blueberries, Betty and Warren instead eloped to Ames, Iowa. They declared their love to each other on July 13, 1940 and keeping the marriage a secret for many months.
Settling their roots in Minneapolis, Betty and Warren were blessed with three children, Jerry, Mary and Kathy. They enjoyed camping and attending the events of General Mills. Traveling the world abroad and every state except South Carolina, Betty never missed celebrating her Swedish heritage at the annual events in Minneapolis. For over 23 years, Betty and Warren also were the resident managers of the International Village Apartments in Bloomington, where she also was crowned champion of the Racquet Ball Tournament.
Most of Betty’s career was spent tending to her family, with hospitality being her middle name. A great listener, Betty thoroughly enjoyed the conversations sharing a cup of coffee or a meal with anyone that would grace her door step. Crocheting hundreds of Afghans, Betty was proud to give one as a gift for weddings, babies or any special occasion.
The truest passion in Betty’s life was her faith. In the earlier years, she was an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and later years at Friendship Church in Prior Lake. Betty had a special devotional prayer book, which contained over 30 years of family information and important dates. A “prayer warrior” Betty was always praying for the needs of others. Even in her last hours, Betty told her family, “I will be praying for you.”
With the family at her bed side, Pastor Doyle prayed releasing her spirit to Jesus. Betty’s 91 year old body was tired and ready to go home to meet her Savior, the early afternoon of Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, MN. Her vibrant and faithful personality and soul will be missed.
Deeply missed and remember always by those who loved Betty, husband of almost 73 years, Warren of Prior Lake; son, Gerald (Julie) Rylander of Prior Lake; daughter, Mary Miller of Chanhassen: son-in-law, Joseph “Skip” (Lorraine) Vober of Tennessee; grandchildren, Jeff (Kathy) Rylander, Jodi (Conrad) Anderson, Michael (Heidi) Miller, Molly (Josh) McCaffrey, Megan (Chad) Schwichtenberg, Dainis (Lori) Vober; 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Svea May of Minneapolis; brother, Judge David (Corrine) Leslie of Golden Valley; other relatives and friends.
Betty is preceded in death by daughter, Kathy Vober; parents, David and Ruth; twin sister, Ingrid Klanderud; sisters, June (Lloyd) Edlund and Irma (Vic) Harvath. Pall bearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons, Jeff Rylander, Michael Miller, Dainis Vober, Conrad Anderson, Chad Schwichtenberg, Josh McCaffrey, Josh Anderson, Luke Anderson, Aaron Anderson, Devin Miller, Aidan Miller and Matthew Rylander.
The visitation will be on Friday, April 5, from 4-7 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and starting at 11:30 am prior to the service at the church. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, April 6 at 1 pm at Friendship Church 17741 Fairlawn Ave. Pastor Doyle VanGelder will preside. A private family interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Betty’s memory by the family.
The Rylander family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Prior Lake Chapel.
Visitation
When: Friday, April 5, 2013 4-7 pm
Location: Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home
Address: 4565 Pleasant Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Service Information
When: Saturday, April 6, 2013, 1:00 pm
visitation 1 and 1/2 prior the service at church
Location: Friendship Church
Address: 17741 Fairlawn Ave
Prior Lake, MN
Interment
Private
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Minneapolis, MN
