Bette Bealka

Our loving, sweet and beautiful mother, grandmother and great grandmother Bette Jean Eleanor Bealka joined the love of her life Gene on May 25th, 2020. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 26, 1927 to Stanley and Alice Torgersen, graduated from Johnson High School in 1944, and married Gene on July 26, 1947 on her 20th birthday. Their union of 65 years was blessed with 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and many dogs and cats. She and Gene lived in several towns in Minnesota finally settling in Stillwater on Lily Lake in 1967 which fulfilled her dream of finally living on a lake.
She was an accomplished pianist/organist and shared this love of music as the church organist at Prince of Peace in Brooklyn Park and Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Stillwater for many years. Her love of antiques led her to own and operate several antique shops in downtown Stillwater over a 20 year period of time.  She was proud of her Scandinavian Heritage and was active in the Syttende Mai in the St. Croix Valley.  As an avid knitter, she gifted us with sweaters, mittens, hats and beautiful personalized Christmas Stockings.  She was also an excellent baker and shared her love of bread by making her traditional Jule Kage Christmas Bread which she made for all of her family and friends!  She is survived by her children Cyndi, Mike (Sandy), Stillwater, Mn;  Brad (Diana), Glenwood Springs, Co; Kyle, Denver, Co. Grandchildren JT (Laura), Hugh, Mikaela, Nash, Bror and Thor and great grandchild Luka. Sisters Marlene (Dick) Proulx and Jule (Tom) Crever, cousin Roger Torgersen, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Stillwater, Mn. Music Ministry.