Bette Sundberg, age 90, of Cambridge passed away July 17, 2020 at home. A PRIVATE memorial service will be held. The public can watch the service online through a livestream link at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, July 24th. The link will be posted here next week. Interment Isanti Union Cemetery.
Click here to watch livestream: Friday, July 24th at 7:00 PM
According to Bette Jean (Rask) Sundberg, she loved her life of 90 years. Bette was born to Andrew and Emma Rask in Isanti, Minnesota on April 7, 1930. She grew up in Isanti with seven siblings and graduated from Cambridge High School. That summer she married Gordon Sundberg. They celebrated 60 years together before his death in 2008. Together they served several churches, worked in home missions through God’s Invasion Army and the Evangelism Corp. As a pastor’s wife, Bette took the role seriously by volunteering as a Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, singing for services, and assisting Gordy with counseling. She welcomed others often into their home – where coffee was on and homemade goodies were ready to share. She was always willing to listen and pray.
Bette enjoyed skiing and canoeing with Gordy, playing Dominoes and other games, knitting hats for people all over the world, baking rolls most Saturdays, cross stitch and reading. She deeply loved her family: children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, extended family, church family. All will greatly miss her.
She loved to volunteer. A few of her favorites were Trout Lake Camps, Children’s Shelter of Ceba, and Cambridge Intermediate School. If you would like to give a memorial we suggest either Trout Lake Camps or Children’s Shelter of Cebu.
She is survived by her three children, Betsy (Michael) Miller of Cambridge, Mark (Cindy) Sundberg of Minneapolis, Kari (Keith) Betz of Forest Lake; 15 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth (Rask) Larson and by many other relatives and friends.
So many precious memories of Aunt Betty from the past years in Isanti and briefly in Colorado when she went with Uncle Gordy to minister in a church there. But my favorite memory of all time was the most ingratiating smile God ever gave anyone…. and I never saw her without it.
I also have so many warm memories of Aunt Bette, and her winning smile (and laugh that went with it). Earth was a better place because she (and Uncle Gordy) was in it & heaven just gained a jewel! She will be greatly missed and my prayers go out to her children & grandchildren. She was much loved & will be much missed!
Aunt Bette was a precious part of our family. I was privileged to be the “flower girl” at her and Uncle Gordy’s wedding and even to attend their 50th wedding celebration. The few times I was able to visit her in recent years we could expect warm hospitality, great laughter and smiles all around. From her questions and interest I knew she paid attention to the details of my family and ministry and that she prayed for us. Romans 15:13
I remember Bette from our time at Elim Baptist. What a wonderful testimony she was -always had a smile and a word of encouragement! May God bless you all as you mourn her loss here on earth but celebrate her new life with her Savior!
Loved how Auntie Bette continued writing personal Christmas cards, even to us Great-Nieces. She cared so much and I know she was always praying for us. I’m certain there is singing going on in heaven!
I first met Betty at the First Baptist Church of Clearbrook, Mn. She always had a beautiful smile and welcoming hug. She was a great role model as she supported her husband in ministry. She was always interested in others. I felt blessed to be one of her friends!
Bette has been a dear Sister In Law since she married my Brother Gordon. In that I married her sweet younger sister Donna, our lives have been intertwined for many years in Holiday celebrations, with our children, singing together as a mixed quartet, traveling together to visit relatives on the west coast, California and Oregon, traveling on the AmTrack, etc. recently after the death of Gordon and Donna, we still shared many happy times together by getting together with other loved ones in sharing meals and playing table games and singing, mostly in Cambridge Perkins and in her own home. She has always been the perfect hostess for these activities! I will miss her greatly. Betsy, her daughter will carry on Bette’s tradition of relationship.
What a privilege to know Aunt Bette. My fondest memory is of many Sunday afternoons having dinner with her and Uncle Gordy when I was a student at Mounds Midway School of Nursing. They always seemed delighted to see me, which is how they were with everyone! But I don’t know how many guests helped dry the dishes and saw the llttle love notes posted inside kitchen cupboard doors — a habit I brought into my own marriage, with notes in my husband’s “school lunch” bag every day (as teacher, counselor and vice principal). Those love notes were just one way Aunt Bette and Uncle Gordy showed their love, which lasted strong and full right up to the end. Their reunion in Heaven must have been a joyful celebration with all who had gone before.