Betty Sanger

Betty Sanger, age 89, died suddenly on December 13th, 2023, at her home in Mankato.

Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 6th, 2024, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Live stream link, on-line condolences and guestbook below.

Memorials are preferred to Lutheran Social Service (payable to LSS-MN Child Adoption Support) or to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, directed to missions.

Betty was born on November 24th,1934 at home, to Peter and Ingeborg Forseth, in Godahl, Minnesota. She graduated from Saint James High School and from Mankato State University with a B.S. in 1957, and a M.S. in Education in 1969. Schools at which she taught included: Winthrop, MN Richland Center, WI, and Mankato School District 77 for a total of 26 years as an elementary classroom teacher, and as resource room teacher of learning-disabled students.

She loved people and had a heart for serving others. For 20 years, along with the support of her husband, Tom, she created midwife kits to be used in third world countries, over the years, creating 10,000 kits for Global Health Ministries. She served 13 years as a Guardian Ad Litem for children in the Blue Earth County court system. She was an active member at Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she was involved in many ministries including, music, missions, and teaching. She enjoyed preparing each year for the Bethlehem Nordic Bazaar, creating crafts and of course, lots of lefse and Scandinavian goodies. She and her husband Tom also served for 25 years preparing and serving meals at the Salvation Army and the Connections Shelter. She was recognized for her volunteer work in the Mankato area when she was awarded the KEYC/Subway Good People Award in 1995 and the Sertoma Service to Mankind award in 2009.

Betty enjoyed traveling with her husband Tom, RVing many places together and participating in Bible studies, (especially her TABS gals), quilting, music concerts, writing letters, baking, bird watching, and most of all her family.  Betty brought joy, humor, and kindness to everyone she knew and met. 

She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Thomas Sanger of Mankato, whom she married in 1977; children, Amy Olson (Greg) Hartzler, Alpha, Minnesota, Holly Olson (Mark) Roth, Burnsville, Minnesota, Neal (Julie) Sanger, Waterville, Minnesota, Jeaniene Sanger (Mike) Kurth, Silverthorne, Colorado, Brian Sanger, Bloomington, Minnesota; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by first husband of 18 years, LeRoy Olson in 1975, brother, Amos Forseth, and sister, Carol (Forseth) Jacoby.