Betty Lou Freborg

About Betty

Betty Lou Freborg, 96, of Bemidji,MN, died Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji,MN.

Betty was born January 24, 1929 in her home 14 miles NE of Washburn, ND to Emmanuel and Louise Keck. She grew up on a farm and graduated from Washburn High School in 1947. In April of 1946 she met the love of her life at a dance in Coleharbor, ND. Two years later, on July 29, 1948, she married A. Vincent Freborg at the Baptist Church and they danced together for the next 76 years.

They started their family in Underwood, ND, eventually moving to Detroit Lakes, MN, and finally settling in Bemidji in 1964. Betty enjoyed being involved in community, while in Detroit Lakes she helped to organize the 62 Dance Club. Upon moving to Bemidji she was a member of the United Methodist Church and a volunteer of the Bemidji Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a part of several birthday and homemaker clubs, played piano by ear, and played golf.

Embroidery was one of her favorite pastimes, she loved to make dish towels and pillowcases to give to her children and grandchildren as gifts. She was happiest when she could cook, bake, and serve her family and friends her goodies. Every Thursday afternoon, you could find her and Vince dancing at the Bemidji Senior Center. She often said, “I would rather dance, than eat!”

Early in her life, she experienced significant family tragedies, losing four siblings in a short time and yet her faith remained strong and she would say, “Whatever will be, will be.” Always trusting and believing God was in control.

Betty was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. The most important things in her life were her faith, her family, her friends, and her home. She was not much of a traveler and upon getting back home after even a short trip, she would say, “It is so good to be home!”

She is survived by her husband Vince Freborg of Bemidji, children Renee (Barry) Levins of Long Lake, MN, Neil (Brenda) Freborg of Wolf Creek, MT, Scott (Mary Jo) Freborg of Sartell, MN, David Freborg of Roseville, MN and Mya (Mark) Beaulieu of Bemidji. Her grandchildren are Jeremy (Jolene) Freborg of Forest Lake, MN, Nicole (Steve) Marlor of North Scarle, England, Kajsa Freborg of Sacramento, CA, Kaija Freborg of Santa Rosa, CA, Michael (Taryn) Levins of Medina, MN, Shaina (TJ) Raab of Sartell, MN, McKayla (Moise) William of Colorado Springs, CO, and Brock Beaulieu of Bemidji. She is also survived by eleven great grandchildren….Grace, Daisy and George Marlor, Aavry and Wyatt Freborg, Rune Freborg, Graham and Chloe Levins, Milo and Ruby Raab, Vincent William, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Emmanuel and Louise, brothers, Albert (Dorothy), Marvel “Whitey” (Dorothy), Curtis (Gladys), Eugene “Pete” (Marion), sisters Ruth (Rudy) Kost, Ruby (Albert) Hepper, Eunice (Albert) Kost, Alice (Clifford) Thorson, Mavis (John) Bergeron, and infant sisters Melita and Mabel.

memorial service

Services will be held at a later date.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home