"Bets" Betty Howard

life story

"Call me Bets...as in place your bets"

Betty "Bets" Howard, of St. Michael, Minnesota passed away during a summer thunderstorm surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She'd always loved listening to a good downpour.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Stewart Howard and Elizabeth Claire O'Donnell, her sister Marianne Donovan, brother William "Bill" Howard, and her ex-husband William “Bil” Troester.

She is survived and held close by her daughter, Kerry (Brian) Burri of St. Michael, Minnesota, her son, Tim "Tex" (Laura Smith) Troester, of Los Angeles, California, her granddaughter, Devin Burri and (Tara Lucchino) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, her grandson, Drake (Lindy) Burri of Roseville, Minnesota and her beloved, and aptly named kitty, Roamin'.

She will be deeply missed by her brother-in-law, Joe Donovan, sister-in-law, Cathy Howard, nieces Kristen Donovan, Diane Howard, Barb (Scott) Drazkowski, Renee Germain, nephews Bill (Kris) Howard, Garrett Donovan, and cousin Kathleen Beaudet, and all of their families.

She will also be fondly remembered by many in her extended family and by friends whose hearts she touched throughout her life, including those from her early days in New Jersey, those from visits “up home” in Pennsylvania, and those from the years she lived in Minnesota and in Florida.

"Betty Jane" grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, and attended St. Aloysius Catholic High School. She married Bil Troester in 1960, and although the marriage didn't last very long, and she raised the two children on her own, she and Bil built a friendship through the years.

She followed her immediate family in a move to Minnesota in the early 70's. She worked her way up from a bank teller into a management position at Midwest Federal Savings and Loan in Minneapolis. Once her children moved away, she headed south to Fort Lauderdale and worked for American Savings and Loan. She moved back to Minnesota to spend time with her grandkids and found work at USBank.

She'd often introduce herself by saying, “Call me Bets... as in place your bets.” Many folks were charmed by her East Coast accent, her warmth and generosity, and her playful sarcasm. Some would refer to her as "a hoot", or "quite the character". Her son’s friends called her, “Mama T”.

She enjoyed asking people questions about their lives and was fascinated with the details of their stories. She’d long ago asked elderly relatives about how her O’Donnell ancestors from Ireland ended up working the coal mines in Pennsylvania and documented that family history on audio cassette tapes (to be later transcribed by her descendants).

She loved the thrill of the hunt. She was always up for "garaging" in search of antique decor (clutter) to make her apartment feel homey. Her idea of a fun outing was browsing with her daughter for hours at Goodwill, (with a coupon), and stopping for ice cream afterward.

She had a knack for pulling an outfit together. Her wardrobe had flair; including bold patterns, animal prints, funky costume jewelry, and caps with flowers.

Bets had many friends, but she also cherished her “alone time.” She delighted in snuggling up with her kitty on her lap, dipping vanilla sandwich cookies in her tea, scouring Facebook Marketplace for treasures, or watching her favorite old movies. She was a dreamer and a rebel; always expecting to live the life she’d imagined, and trying on ideas in her mind from the comfort of her comfort zone.

memorial service

Bets had asked that there be no rituals, wake, or religious service and that her remains be cremated. She requested instead that "the immediate family gather after a period of time, when convenient, for a small life memorial."

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services