Elizabeth "Betty" Mestad, 94, Jamestown, formerly of Minot and rural Mohall, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at Ave Maria Village, in Jamestown.
Betty was born April 2, 1918, at Norma, the daughter of Helge and Rachel (Johnson) Mestad. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Mohall High School in 1934. She graduated from Minot Teachers College in 1938 and received her bachelor of science degree in education and worked at Minot State College.
Betty moved to California in 1942, and was employed by Douglas Aircraft during World War II. She received her master's degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1948 and taught and worked as a librarian at Long Beach, Calif., for more than 30 years. She retired in 1979 and returned to Minot in 1981.
Betty was a member of First Lutheran Church, in Minot, where she was active with the quilting group. She did volunteer work at Trinity Hospital. She had served as the superintendant of the Sunday school at Our Saviors Church in Long Beach for more than 25 years.
Betty was a world traveler. She visited the Holy Land, Japan, Europe, Australia, Norway and cruised the Panama Canal and Alaska. She enjoyed collecting stamps, making teddy bears and doing Scandinavian embroidery called hardanger. She had an exceptional wit and always enjoyed gatherings with family and friends.
Her loving family includes: sister, Myrtle Hustad of Jamestown; along with nieces, Kathleen (Lloyd) Wynne, Jamestown, Rebecca (Peter) Mason, New Jersey and Mary (Dan) Kroger, Sacramento, Calif.; nephew, Peter (Margot) Mestad, Overland Park, Kan., along with numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Harold; and sister, Thelma.
Funeral service: Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m., in First Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Evanger Lutheran Cemetery, rural Kenmare.
Visitation: Today, Tuesday, from 4 to 7 p.m., in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family prefers memorials be designated to First Lutheran Church or Metigoshe Ministries.
Those wishing to sign the online memorial register or send messages are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).
