Elizabeth "Betty" Vanselow

1922 - 2023

Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Vanselow, 100, died Friday, October 6, 2023, from pneumonia at Country Manor in Sartell, MN.

Mass of Christian burial held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville, MN, with Father Ron Dockendorf officiating. Visitation held from 9:00-11:00 A.M., on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville. Lunch served after the Mass. Burial in the Parish Cemetery. Caring for Elizabeth and her family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel of Swanville.

Betty was born December 23, 1922, in Forest Lake, MN to Catherine (Hauble) and John Thurnbeck. She was the youngest of their seven children who all grew up working on the family turkey farm. She graduated from Forest Lake High School and attended Miller Vocational School, a sewing school. She only attended a few days of sewing school because of how advanced she was and was sent to work at Jean Lang Originals, an exclusive shop in the Twin Cities.

On May 1, 1943, she married Edwin Vanselow. They met when Ed worked on the Thurnbeck turkey farm. They moved to Swanville where they were among the first turkey farmers in the area. They raised five children (JoAnn, Dennis, Gary, Leann, and Gene).

Betty spent many, many, many hours sewing. She sewed her own wedding dress and the bridesmaids' and flower girl dresses along with dresses for other peoples' weddings. In addition to sewing clothes, she made hundreds of quilts for fundraisers, weddings, and baby gifts. She was also employed to sew for Larson Boats in Little Falls, MN. She enjoyed many other crafts like knitting, crocheting, ceramics, making Christmas stockings and ornaments, cross stitching, and more. Betty's kitchen was always full of her homemade cookies, breads, and pastries and anyone who visited always went home with treats. She made and decorated cakes for weddings, birthdays, graduations, showers, and other special events, including her own wedding cake.

In 2008, she moved to Country Manor at Sartell, MN, living first in an apartment and eventually transferring to nursing care. Even though she was busy, she always enjoyed family time with her 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. While at Country Manor, she took part in all their activities, especially looking forward to playing cards and bingo. Betty knew she was blessed and above everything, she looked forward to daily Mass and the rosary.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, John and Catherine Thurnbeck; brothers, Frank, George, Clem, Lawrence; sisters Amelia "Milly," Mary; all her siblings' spouses; husband, Edwin Vanselow; daughter-in-law, Eileen Vanselow; son, Gary Vanselow; son-in-law, David Olson, grandson, Adam Lentz, and great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Vanselow.

Betty is survived by her children, JoAnn Olson, Dennis (Mary) Vanselow, Teresa Vanselow, Leann (Ken) Lentz, Gene (Kathy) Vanselow; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Jean Vanselow; and several nieces and nephews.

Betty's family would like to thank the Country Manor staff for their service over the past 15 years and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care during her final days.