Betty A. F. Leland, 91

Bricelyn – A Celebration of Life ceremony for Betty Leland will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn. Interment will be directly after the service; a light lunch will follow in the BLC Social Hall for fellowship and time to share remembrances.

Betty Ann Flo Leland was born July 28,1929, to Burt and Evelyn (Sampson) Flo. She was baptized and confirmed at Bricelyn Lutheran Church, Bricelyn, and was a member there her entire life. Betty graduated from Bricelyn High School in 1947. She attended and graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield four years later. During her high school years, Stan Leland entered her life and became very important to her. Stan became Betty’s husband on Feb. 28, 1951.

Betty taught Business Education at BHS for a few years. When Stan returned home from the Army, they settled on the Bolstad family farm near Bricelyn to raise a family and tender the rich Faribault County farmland. In the 1970s, Betty returned to the education field to teach Spanish at BHS. She was a caring teacher who expected excellence from each of her students.

Betty was very active in her church and the Bricelyn community. As a member of BLC, Betty enjoyed fellowship and leadership roles within WELCA, bible study circles, and the Centennial Celebration and AAL/Thrivent committees; also, she was active in the church choir and as a Sunday School teacher. Civic duties included the American Legion Auxiliary, Garden Club, a counter for the US Census, and the famous Lutefisk Girls. Betty’s hobbies were well honed. She enjoyed solitaire or a crossword puzzle daily. She was also an avid gardener. Her floral arrangements were well known, and she enjoyed growing and cultivating vegetables/produce and canning them. Betty was a talented artist; she painted many ceramic Santas and other seasonal pieces. Each of her children and grandchildren have these remembrances of her. Bridge Club was another passionate hobby and she belonged to several different clubs She was a skilled player and enjoyed the socialization along with the competition. The Minnesota Twins were always her favorite team and she followed them faithfully. 

Betty died Saturday Nov. 28, 2020, at the age of 91 years and 4 months. 

Betty is survived by her daughter, Beth (Larry) Jacobson, of Bricelyn, son, Scott (Kay May) Leland, of Maple Grove, and son, Paul (Dawn) Leland, of Blue Earth; also grandchildren, Laurie (Chris) Kwapick, of Little Canada, Megan (Nikki) Jacobson-Wigern of Mankato, Evie (Derek Nadeau) Leland, of Baltimore, Maryland, Christopher Leland, of Baltimore Maryland, and Grace Leland, of Minneapolis.  Betty has five great-grandchildren: Heidi and Henry Kwapick, and Griffin, Wyatt, and Hadley Jacobson-Wigern.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Stan.