Betty McDonald
In the early morning of May 29th, our mother and grandmother, Betty McDonald, decided it was time for her to join her husband, son, sisters and parents in the mystery of what comes next. She died of natural causes after a peaceful evening with family.
Mom was born on November 2, 1930, in Scribner Nebraska to William and Edna Westphalen. She grew up on the family farm and attended a one room schoolhouse for her primary education before graduating from Scribner High School in 1948. She married Harry McDonald Jr. on January 15, 1955, and they worked and lived in several states during their lives together. They had three children, Lorene, David and Daniel who all grew up to be law abiding, tax paying citizens. They were blessed with five granddaughters, Leslie, Erin and Emily Rutherford, and Alyson and Alexandra McDonald. Mom was also overjoyed at the arrival of her great-granddaughter, Hazel Ferron, 18 months ago.
Mom worked in several retail positions in companies such as Woolworths over the years and could be found hand dipping chocolates at Huckleberry Inn in Faribault for many years. She enjoyed meeting people and making them happy and was a reliable and dedicated employee wherever she worked. She didn’t slow down after retirement either and worked part time at the women’s shelter in Faribault and at Riverbend Nature Center. She volunteered her time in the Faribault public schools helping teach kids to read, and she was active in the American Legion Women’s Auxillary for 53 years, serving as president in 2003-4. She stayed active meeting friends for coffee, a movie or a day at the casino until age 90 when covid appeared and forced her to stay home. She beat colon cancer at age 92 and lived independently until November 2023 when she moved to assisted living at New Perspective in Faribault. We are very grateful for the loving care provided by so many of the staff there, especially in the last few months.
She greatly enjoyed family visits, meals, holidays and games with her children and grandchildren. She lived a long, productive and service-oriented life and is now at peace, hopefully reunited with her heavenly family enjoying a game of cards and a good cup of coffee.
She was preceded to Heaven by her husband, Harry McDonald, a miscarried infant, her son, Daniel McDonald her parents, William and Edna Westphalen, her sisters, Doris Bennett and Elaine Kelberlau.
She is survived by her children Lorene (Douglas) Rutherford, David McDonald and fiancé, Connie Tibuni, her grandchildren, Leslie (Alexandre) Adrian, Erin Rutherford, Emily Rutherford and fiancé, Alexander Scheel, Alyson McDonald and her partner Elliott Ferron, Alexandra McDonald, her fiancé John Campbell, great granddaughter, Hazel Ferron and former daughter in law, Sally McDonald and her partner Steve Ulseth.
Her service will be on Monday, June 23rd at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Faribault. Visitation at 10 am, service at 11 am with lunch to follow at the church. Interment will be at Meadow Ridge Cemetery in the Veteran’s section.
Memorials are appreciated to the American Cancer Society, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or Wayzata Community Church.