Betty Bergerson

Betty (Lovsted) Bergerson, age 79, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2025, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN.

On April 2, Betty decided to go on hospice and end more than five years of cancer treatments. She was at peace with this choice and ready for comfort-focused care. She was never alone - she was surrounded by family and friends throughout her care, right up until her peaceful passing.

Born and raised in Brainerd, MN, she earned a nursing degree from St. Luke's School of Nursing in Duluth and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul.

Betty began her nursing career, as a Registered Nurse, at St. Joseph's Hospital in 1970 where she worked in Orthopedics and the Intensive Care Unit. In 1973 she transitioned her specialty to Nephrology. Over the coming decades she worked to support and care for patients in various stages of kidney disease with the Regional Kidney Disease Program and later, Hennepin Faculty Associates as a Certified Nephrology Nurse.

Throughout her career, Betty was a respected clinician, collaborator, researcher, presenter, and published author. She was widely admired for her expertise and compassion.

One noteworthy contribution came in the wake of the devastating Armenian earthquake in December 1988. Betty was part of a U.S. medical team that joined international efforts to provide critical dialysis treatment to earthquake victims suffering from acute renal failure due to crush injuries. Lessons learned from the work she and her colleagues did, shaped future international disaster response protocols.

Betty volunteered extensively with the National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), Celebration of Life Galas, and Kidney Walks. She was especially passionate and devoted to KEEP, a national initiative promoting early detection and intervention for chronic kidney disease.

A lifelong Girl Scout, Betty was honored with the Adult Gold Award for her decades of service. She served as both a Troop Leader and a Service Unit Manager - deeply committed to leadership and mentorship.

Betty will be remembered not only for her professional accomplishments, but also for her generous spirit, warm heart, and enduring friendships. She was a woman of faith. She loved her family, her friends, her garden - especially her famously delicious tomatoes - and gave freely of herself in all things.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Frances Lovsted; her brother, Robert Lovsted; and her sister, Shelley Lovsted.

She is survived by her devoted husband of more than 50 years, Wallace Bergerson; daughters Paula Bergerson and Jodi Bergerson; sisters Elsie Lovsted and Arlene (Jon) Lovsted; sister-in-law Ellen Bergerson; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 29, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 380 Little Canada Road E, Little Canada. A visitation will precede the service from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, and lunch will be served following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the National Kidney Foundation.