Elizabeth "Betty" K. Rieke
Age 92, died Sunday.
Betty grew up in Detroit, lived in Seattle, WA for 30 years where after raising her family she graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Home Economics emphasis in textiles, clothing, and interior design. Fluent in Hungarian due to her parents being immigrants, she assisted with the resettlement of refugees to Seattle after the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Her efforts were recognized by being named Mother of the Year for the state of Washington. Later in life she and Harry retired to San Diego where she lived until moving to Grand Forks, ND in 2000 to be near her son Garl and family. Three years ago she moved to St. Paul. Betty was cheerful, outgoing, and witty. She was very proud of her heritage and in San Diego she served as president of the House of Hungary in Balboa Park. She also joined the Minnesota Hungarians. She held a variety of teaching and retail positions and volunteered for a number of causes including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation because both her sons were diagnosed as diabetics as children.
She will be sorely missed by her sons and daughters-in-law Drs. Garl and Judy (St. Paul) Rieke and Dr. Ross and Kit Otto-Rieke (Rockledge, FL), grandsons Stuart (Stockholm, SD), Monique Vondall-Rieke, (Belcourt, ND) and Eric (Dr. Kathleen, Clear Lake, MN) Rieke, great grandson Hunter (Belcourt, ND) and great granddaughter Alexis Elizabeth (Clear Lake), step great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by Harry A. Rieke, Jr. her husband of 57 years, her parents, and 5 brothers.
Memorials may be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
A service to celebrate Elizabeth's life is planned for a later date at Unity Church Unitarian, St. Paul.
Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services, 678 South Snelling Avenue. St. Paul, MN 55116. 651-698-3878
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Theresa K.
Betty will be missed. When asked, "how are you?" she would always say, "not bad, for an old lady". I enjoyed knowing her very much and will miss her. Condolences for your loss, Theresa KnoxGrand Forks, ND 06/19/2012 11:12 PM
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